Following an extensive period of uncertainty, the Housing and Planning Minister, Brandon Lewis today (13 October 2015), announced that the temporary permitted development rights allowing the conversion of offices to residential use have been made permanent.

The rights were set to expire on 30 May 2016, causing doubt and anxiety for developers seeking prior approval, and potentially introducing “a raft of unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy” to regularise the position of half-finished conversions. However, Mr Lewis has now confirmed that the PD rights are permanent, and that those who already have permission will have 3 years in which to complete the change of use.

The Statement also extends the permitted development rights to allow the change of use of Light Industrial buildings (Use Class B1(c)), and Launderettes to residential use, and the demolition and rebuilding of existing office buildings to provide new residential accommodation (subject to prior approval and limitations).

We wait for the publication of the formal Statutory Instrument to confirm the relevant limitations on the new and extended PD rights.