Want to spend more time in the office? Office to Resi development rights made permanent
Published on 14th Oct 2015
The Government has announced that it will make temporary permitted development rights allowing offices to be converted to residential properties permanent.
Temporary rights were introduced in 2013 and were due to expire on 30 May 2016, but the large uptake from developers (4,000 conversions being approved since April 2014 and June 2015) has led to the change. This means that office buildings can be converted to residential use properties without the need for a formal planning permission, only subject to limitations and prior approval by the Local Planning Authority.
In addition, the right is to be further expanded to allow for the demolition of offices and building of residential properties in their place. This is an interesting development, being a step further than just the conversion of existing buildings previously allowed. The Government has also stated its intention to allow the conversion of light industrial buildings into new homes. Details of both new proposals are expected to follow.
