LGA responds to a report on change of use permitted development rights

“This independent report rightly backs our long-standing concerns over the detrimental impact on local communities of rules allowing home conversions without planning permission. It provides further evidence on why it is more vital than ever that planning should remain local."

View allHousing and planning articles

Responding to an independent report commissioned by MHCLG into the quality standard of homes delivered through change of use permitted development rights, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing and planning spokesman, said: 

“This independent report rightly backs our long-standing concerns over the detrimental impact on local communities of rules allowing home conversions without planning permission. It provides further evidence on why it is more vital than ever that planning should remain local. 

“In particular, it rightly highlights how these conversions mostly avoid making any contribution to local areas, which is a requirement of the local planning system, fail to meet adequate design standards and create worse living environments. 

“Under these rules, communities have no way to ensure developers build high-quality affordable homes in the right places, provide any affordable homes as part of the development, along with infrastructure that provides enough schools, promotes greener and more active travel, and tackles climate change.

“We urge the Government to act on these independent findings and remove permitted development rights. Developers must no longer be allowed to bypass the planning system and local communities must be able to have a say on all new developments in their area. 

“It is vital that councils and local communities have a voice in the planning process and are able to oversee all local developments so councils can deliver resilient, prosperous places that meet the needs of their communities.”