Government pushes through radical PDR despite research findings

The government is pushing through radical extensions to permitted development rights despite its own commissioned research revealing poor quality homes that impact health and wellbeing. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick will today lay out new legislation for the redevelopment of vacant commercial buildings for residential without a planning application, ahead of plans for a full reform to be revealed later this month. Controversial permitted development rights will allow development bypassing local authority planner scrutiny, developer levies and affordable housing contributions. The long-awaited planning reform promises to “cut out bureaucracy to get Britain building” and is expected to include radical zoning measures in place of local authority committees. An independent report, funded by the ministry of housing, communities and local government, also released today, concluded PDR conversions appear to create “worse quality residential environments than planning permissions conversions”. The research from University College London and University of Liverpool raised concerns over “health, wellbeing and quality of life of future occupiers”. It said internal configuration of homes and neighbouring uses of existing conversions in largely commercial areas were the primary issues. Existing office-to-resi PDR has driven a surge of homes that critics have slammed as “slums of the future”. Jenrick proposed the expansion of PDR in March to help fast-track housing development. The move has been embraced by prime minister Boris Johnson as part of “Project Speed” to rebuild high streets and towns in the economic recovery from the pandemic. New measures specify that schemes must be well-designed and meet natural light standards. They will come into effect by September. Homeowners will also be able to add two storeys to their homes through a fast-track approval process. However, pubs, libraries, village shops and other community assets will be exempt from the rights and will still require planning consent for any development. Jenrick said: “We are reforming the planning system and cutting out unnecessary bureaucracy to give small business owners the freedom they need to adapt and evolve, and to renew our town centres with new enterprises and more housing. “These changes will help transform boarded-up, unused buildings safely into high quality homes at the heart of their communities.” To send feedback, e-mail emma.rosser@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmmaARosser or @estatesgazette