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Out-Law News 1 min. read

Office-to-home conversion rights amendment Order laid before Parliament


An Order to introduce permitted development rights allowing offices to be converted to homes without the need for planning permission has been laid before Parliament today.

The Order sets out areas within 17 local authorities which will be exempt from the right, including the Central Activities Zone and Tech City in London as well as areas in the Isle of Dogs and the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone.

Outside the capital, areas within the borough councils of Vale of the White Horse, Stevenage, Ashford in Kent, the district councils of Sevenoaks and East Hampshire and Manchester City Council will also be exempt from the rights.

The Order also introduces the right for extensions to homes up to eight metres to proceed without obtaining planning permission. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said in a written ministerial statement that larger home extensions would be subject to a "light touch" neighbours consultation scheme. The rights will be in place for an initial period of three years.

The Order sets out a right for retail shops, financial and professional services, restaurants, cafes and businesses to open for up to two years in buildings designated as shops, financial services, restaurants, pubs, hot food takeaways, business, non-residential institutions, leisure and assembly.

The thresholds for permitted development rights for change of use from business or general industry to storage and distribution and from general industry or storage and distribution to business will increase from 235 square metres to 500 sq m.

The Order will also allow premises used as offices, hotels, residential and non-residential institutions and leisure and assembly to change use permanently to a state-funded school. Buildings in any use class will be able to be used as a state-funded school for one academic year.

"We want to promote the use of brownfield land to assist regeneration, and get empty and under-used buildings back into productive use," Pickles said. "Using such previously developed land and buildings will help us promote economic growth and still ensure that we safeguard environmentally protected land".

The amendment Order will come into force on 30 May.

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