New Permitted Development Rights

The government has recently published their response to their consultation titled “Planning Reform – Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes”

Following their consultation document the government is now proposing to bring forward regulations to introduce a new permitted development right to allow shops (A1), financial and professional services (A2), hot food takeaways (A5), betting shops, pay day loan shops and launderettes to change to up to 500 square metres of office use (B1), with prior approval by the local planning authority of certain planning impacts, including on the sustainability of the existing shopping area.

The government is pressing forward with existing permitted development right for change of use of up to 150 square metres of shops (A1), financial and professional services (A2), betting offices, pay day loan shops and launderettes to residential use (C3) to include change from hot food takeaways (A5).”

The consultation document proposed to amend Part 4 Class D so that the temporary “flexible use” would also include certain D1 uses such as a “public library”, “exhibition hall”, “museum”, or “clinic or health centre”.  The government intend to amend the existing permitted development right for temporary change of use to allow a change to specified community uses, including change of use to an art gallery, and to extend the period of temporary use from 2 years to 3 years to give businesses and community uses sufficient time to test the market”.

To ensure that the Use Class A1 (shops) will “remain current for the modern high street” the government intends to simplify Use Class A1 (shops) “to remove the current named uses and allow for a broader definition of uses for the sale, display or service to visiting members of the public”.

In respect of introducing permitted development for upward extensions to existing buildings to create new homes, the government intends to take forward a permitted development right to extend upwards certain existing buildings in commercial and residential use to deliver additional homes. They want a right to respect the design of the existing streetscape, while ensuring the amenity of existing neighbours is considered. “We recognise the complexity of designing a permitted development right to build upwards and will continue to engage with interested parties on the technical details.”