Relaxation of Planning Restrictions Aims to Promote Development.

A further government initiative introduced this month is intended to increase the supply of homes, make it easier to change use from retail use and farm building and to encourage the opening of new childcare facilities.

No planning permission will be required for:-

• Shops changing to houses

• Farm buildings changing to houses

• Farm buildings changing to schools or nurseries

• Offices, hotels, residential institutions and leisure facilities changing to nurseries providing childcare

However there are “prior approval” processes that developers will have to meet and certain restrictions for example size restrictions on the conversion of farm buildings to dwelling houses.

It will also be possible for local authorities to opt out of certain permitted development rights. It remains to be seen how many local authorities will take advantage of this as many did following the government’s introduction in May 2013 of rights to allow changes of use from office to residential without the need for prior planning consent.

Watch this space for a further review of permitted development rights, as indicated by George Osborne in the recent budget. Again this will be designed to introduce greater flexibilities for changes to residential use for example from warehouse and light industry and also giving businesses greater flexibility to expand existing sites.