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The Government's announcement that planning rules could be relaxed temporarily to give permitted development rights for offices to be transformed into homes, has been welcomed as potential good news by commercial property agent Prop-Search.
The plans, unveiled by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, are aimed at tackling the national housing shortage by enabling empty and underused offices to be swiftly turned into much-needed accommodation.
The new rules, to be in force for three years, cover the change of use from B1(a) offices to C3 residential (single family as opposed to home of multiple occupation) use. Local councils will only be able to gain an exemption from this if they can show it would lead to ‘the loss of a nationally significant area of economic activity' or ‘substantial adverse economic consequences'.
Chris Billson, a Director at Prop-Search, said: “Office to residential conversions unfortunately will not work for all empty or redundant buildings, or in every area. However, it is good news for those where it is economically viable and will offer an opportunity to provide much needed housing with a consequent uplift in value. Indeed, the Communities and Local Government department has confirmed that it anticipates 100,000 homes will be provided through the use of this scheme.”
“We will however need to see further detail on how ‘local exceptions' schemes will work. Any exemptions should be few and far between, and this aspect will need to be tightly drawn and policed if it is not to undermine the overall policy objective.”
Agricultural buildings can also now be converted for other business uses without the need for planning permission, raising the prospect of redundant barns being converted and promoting job creation in rural areas.
Further information or advice can be obtained from Prop-Search - Tel: 01933 223300 / 01604 492000 or its website: www.prop-search.com