More offices to homes conversions

Housing and Planning Minister, Brandon Lewis, has announced new measures that should make it easier to turn underused office buildings into new homes.

First introduced in 2013, temporary permitted development rights have enabled offices to be converted to new homes without having to apply for planning permission. These rights were set to expire on 30th May 2016 but will now be made permanent. In addition the rights will in future allow the demolition of office buildings for new residential building, and enable the change of use of light industrial buildings without planning permission.