Amendments to the General Permitted Development Order, which came into force yesterday, introduce a new Class IA into Part 3, which allows Shops or Financial Institutions (Class A1/A2), to be converted to Dwellings (Class C3), without the need for planning permission. This new Class includes the authorisation of building operations reasonably necessary to convert the building to residential use.

If you have a Section 106 that is too onerous and was signed before 6th April 2010 read on...