Square Mile’s office-to-resi PD exemption extended

A loophole which could have resulted in City office buildings being legally turned into housing without planning permission after 1 August has been closed. The government confirmed today that the City of London would keep its exemption from national permitted development rights – which would have enabled the changes – past its current expiry at the end of July. The City Corporation’s planning and transportation committee approved the rule extension last year, and it has now been confirmed that Michael Gove, secretary of state for levelling up, housing and communities, will not use his ministerial power to amend or cancel the move. A City Corporation spokesperson said: “The success of the Square Mile has been built on the benefits of agglomeration and offices remain at the core of our recovery plan. “This Article 4 direction means the City Corporation is able to continue to manage the stock of offices in the Square Mile and to protect existing office floorspace against a change of use to housing where that would cause harm to the primary business function of the City.” To send feedback, e-mail alex.daniel@eg.co.uk or tweet @alexmdaniel or @EGPropertyNews Photo by Frank Augstein/AP/Shutterstock