New Conversion Rights

From 1st June a new ‘permitted development’ right will allow the change of use of offices to residential, without the need for planning permission. This only covers the use and not any external changes to the building, which would need planning permission. Inevitably there are a number of qualifying provisos. Also, some councils have opted out, particularly in London, so the right doesn’t apply everywhere.

Before you start a conversion, the new provisions require an application to the council to determine whether further approval of the council is needed. The council’s assessment, though, is confined to transport and highway safety matters, and whether there are flooding or contamination risks on the site.

Whilst the Government’s intention was to enable vacant office blocks to be easily converted to flats, there are likely to be plenty of much smaller scale opportunities out there.  Many attractive buildings in both urban and rural situations are used as offices and would make ideal homes. Note the right applies to the ‘curtilage’ of the office building as well, enabling any existing garden and parking areas to be made over to domestic garden.