Industry bodies unite against PDR

Leading industry bodies the Royal Town Planning Institute, RIBA, RICS and the Chartered Institute of Building have written to housing secretary Robert Jenrick in opposition of extended permitted development rights. Jenrick today laid out new legislation for the redevelopment of vacant commercial buildings for residential use without a planning application, ahead of plans for a full reform to be revealed later this month. The move comes on the same day a government-commissioned independent report said that PDR conversions create worse environments, raising concerns over “health, wellbeing and quality of life”. The organisations said PDR “should not be considered unless subject to clear space, building and design standards”. The letter stressed fears that the planning loophole will “lock in more unacceptable standard development, the consequences of which we will live with for generations or must rectify later at greater expense”. It adds: “We are concerned around how these PDRs will be implemented, and the potential impact on the quality of life of future residents and local communities.” They have offered to advise on a better PDR regime with proactive planning interventions to create buildings suitable for various uses. The letter is signed by RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills, RIBA president Alan Jones, RICS managing director for UK & Ireland Matthew Howell and CIOB director for research, policy and public affairs Eddie Tuttle. The bodies represent some 175,000 surveyors, architects and planners. It follows a similar intervention from 22 London councils, which have also written to the housing secretary urging him to rethink the proposals. The councils argue that other forms of PDR have led to the eviction of viable businesses in favour of “substandard, undersized homes”. They said: “Rather than help the recovery from the pandemic, introducing potentially poor quality and poorly located homes into commercial areas is liable to make these locations less attractive to businesses in a time they need help to increase their attractiveness.” In the letter, dated 20 July, they added that councils will see a significant loss of income, through the CIL and section 106 contributions which support local authority infrastructure and affordable housing development. To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette