New PD Rights Consultation

Following the end of the consultation of the Planning White Paper, the Government has now started a consultation on ‘more immediate changes’ to the planning system which runs until the 28th January 2021.

Key proposals in the new consultation include:

• A new national permitted development right for the change of use of shops, banks and restaurants, gyms, creches and offices to residential use;

• Amending existing permitted development rights to allow schools, colleges and universities, hospitals and prisons to expand by up to 25% of the footprint of the current buildings, or up to 250sqm (thereby removing a previous cap of 100sqm for all buildings other than schools); and

• Reducing the time for decision making on applications for new hospitals, schools, colleges and prisons so that the consultation for them is reduced from 21 days to 14 days.

Whilst opinion is currently split due to the independent research commissioned by the Government into the quality of the homes converted via permitted development rights, consultation is proceeding.

It will be interesting to see what happens - watch this space!