Office to residential permitted development rights to be made permanent

It has been confirmed by the government that permitted development rights which allow offices to be converted into homes, will be made permanent from 6 April.

The concept was initially introduced back in May 2013 as a temporary measure, however their permanent adoption has been anticipated since October after the Prime Minister praised their use.

Legislation which will extend the rights also includes a new condition that allows local planning authorities to consider the impacts of noise from commercial properties on the intended occupiers.

There will also be amendments made to allow for permitted development rights for:

• launderettes to change to housing;
• light industrial premises to change to housing, on a three year temporary right; and
• mineral exploration to allow for the drilling of boreholes for groundwater monitoring, seismic monitoring and appraising mine conditions prior to potential petroleum exploration.

Finally, from May 2019, some areas which were originally exempt under the permitted development rights, will have those exemptions lifted. This includes parts of central London and Manchester city centre.

For more information, see the:

• Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order SI 1995/418;
•  Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order SI 2015/596.