Planning for the future of our High Street and other changes to the system...

So, hard on the heels of the Chancellor’s Budget, changes to the planning regulations have now been proposed; Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes. In essence this is proposing new Permitted Development (PD) rights aimed at allowing more floorspace to come forward in urban areas, reinvigorating the ‘High Street’ and encouraging development without the usual procrastinations and red tape. So, depending on the consultation comments, we could therefore be shortly seeing;

• Change of use of shops to office - including the re-use of financial and professional service floorspace (like banks), hot-food takeaways, betting shops and launderettes into B1 office use. 
• A new lease of life for takeaways (A5) to residential use (C3).
• Upward extensions - providing for additional residential accommodation.
• The change of storage/distribution (B8) floorspace to residential use to be allowed permanently, after the initial trail run which was time barred.
• Larger single-storey residential rear extensions – making permanent the temporary PD rights which have a shelf life to 2019.
• The potential to demolish existing commercial buildings to allow for residential redevelopment.

As with all proposed changes, the fine detail is kept for later. But in principle it seems the Government is keen to find increasing ways to circumvent the standard application process through the use of Permitted Development rights which is one way to speed up the delivery of much needed new housing. And yes, it might also be a way of assisting our High Street to reinvent themselves. After all they need all the help they can and removing the red tape and inconsistency of local decision making will be a move in the right direction.

Of course, there will be unintended consequences, but it wouldn’t be a tweak to the planning system without a few of those - would it. The Planning team at Arcadis is advising clients on the implications of the proposed changes so contact us for further details and to learn more about what the changes might mean for your property portfolio.  #ArcadisUK