Minimum Space Standards Announced

The Secretary of State has confirmed that the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) will not permit any residential conversions were the gross internal floor area is less than 37 square metres in size. The space standards apply to all permitted development under the GPDO involving the creation of new dwellings, with the space standard coming into force on 6th April 2021. However, the provisions will not apply to a development which seeks an approval application made before the 6th April 2021.

In other changes, the Secretary of State announced that the temporary change of use to hot food take-aways under Class DA of part 4 has been extended for an extra year to the 23rd March 2021. It should be noted that this does not override any condition in a planning permission that precludes use as a hot food takeaway.

On the 3rd December 2020 there will also be a change to the PD rights for demolition of buildings under Part 11, Class B of the GPDO. Any building that was or is used as a venue for live music performance or a theatre will be excluded from PD rights for demolition. The required prior approval process does not relate to the principle of demolition, but only to the method of demolition and any proposed restoration of the site.

For more details of the forthcoming changes, please contact our planning team on 0121 744 5511.