Tag: permitted development rights

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is running a consultation until 25th September 2023 on a proposal to further relax Permitted Development Rights for selected categories of development.

The Government is looking to ensure that the planning system is efficient, effective, responsive and delivers beautiful and well-designed development. This consultation requests views on proposals designed to promote the delivery of well-designed development and support housing delivery, the agricultural sector and economic growth.

Some of the main highlights in the consultation paper include the following proposals:

Change of use of buildings within the commercial, business and service use class to residential use (MA)

• Either double the current permitted floor space of 1,500 sq m to 3,000 sq m or remove the limit all together.
• Proposal to remove the requirement for the property to be empty for three months before application.
• Widen the scope for commercial conversions to include the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks.

Agricultural buildings to houses (Class Q)

• Double the maximum number of dwellings from five to ten.
• Increase the maximum floor space from 865 sq m to 1,000 sq m. 
• Allow for single storey rear extensions to be created.
• Allow work to take place in conservation areas, AONB and National Parks.
• To be extended to former agricultural buildings that are no longer on an established agricultural unit or to buildings that are not used solely for agricultural purposes.
• Possible extension of rights to equestrian or forestry buildings.

Agricultural buildings to a flexible commercial use (Class R)

• Extend these rights to include outdoor sports, recreation and fitness, e.g. paintballing but not motor sports.
• The rights might extend to all B2 (general industrial uses) to only allow processing of raw goods produced on the site and to be sold on the site, excluding livestock.
• Proposal to double the maximum floorspace from 500 sq m to 1,000 sq m and allow for multiple uses at the same time.
• Possible extension of rights to equestrian or forestry buildings.

Agricultural development on land over 5 hectares (Part 6, Class A)

• Extended barns could increase in size from 1,000 sq m to 1,500 sq m.
• New buildings would still be limited to 1,000 sq m. 

Agricultural development on land below 5 hectares (Part 6, Class B)

• Existing barns to be extended by 25% with an overall limit of 1,250 sq m.
• Extensions to the cubic content of the original barn to increase by 25%.

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive.

Abel Bunu, Principal Planner, comments “As usual, we expect that if the proposed changes succeed, they will come with a raft of qualifying criteria to be satisfied before enjoying the Permitted Development Rights. Nevertheless, the additional flexibility offered would increase the opportunities for development of agricultural land and buildings.”

Responses to this consultation can be sent via the online link here or via email to PDRconsultationsummer2023@levellingup.gov.uk. It is important to respond where applicable as all responses are reviewed when determining whether the changes are to take place.

Please note that local planning authorities have the right to withdraw Permitted Development Rights and so it is important to act quickly before this happens.

If you would like more information on the above or would like to find out how our Planning & Development team can help you take advantage of the changes being introduced to the planning system, please contact Abel or David.

With the growth in the market of short term lets of a room or rooms in a residential property through Airbnb and other such companies, has led the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to hold a consultation on the introduction of a new use class and associated permitted development rights. The consultation has now closed but it covered the following areas:

1. The introduction of a new use class for short term lets.
2. The potential introduction of new permitted development rights for the change of use from a house to a short term let.
3. The potential introduction of a new permitted development right for the change of use from a short term let to a house.
4. How flexibility for homeowners to let out their home for a number of nights in a calendar year could be provided through either changes to the house use class or an additional permitted development right.
5. The introduction of a planning application fee for the development of new build short term lets.

We expect that if the proposal succeeds, it will come with a raft of qualifying criteria to be satisfied first before enjoying the permitted development rights. Nevertheless, the new use class will provide an opportunity for property owners to explore new investment options for their property.

Please note that local planning authorities have the right to withdraw permitted development rights and so, if the new use class and associated permitted development rights do come in, it is important to act quickly before this happens. We will update you once any announcements have been made.

If you would like more information on the above or would like to find out how our Planning & Development team can help you take advantage of the changes being introduced to the planning system, please contact Abel Bunu, Principal Planner on 01234 362891 or David Sawford, Head of Planning on 01234 362909.

There are a few points worth sharing with you on the ever changing world of planning.

1. Reminder of new Permitted Development Rights that will come into effect from 1st August 2021 (see previous article here).

The changes will enable the change of use of premises in a commercial, business or service purpose (Class E) to use as a dwelling house (Class C3). This is subject to limitations and, in particular, the building must have continuously been vacant for at least three months or comprised a Class E use for at least two years and cannot exceed 1,500 square metres.

2. Bedford Borough Local Plan

The review of the Bedford Borough Council Local Plan (adopted January 2020) is now open for a new consultation and concentrates on the following policy areas: 

• Development Strategy to 2040
• Town centre and retail policies 
• Updated Development Management policies (in relation to environmental net gain, quality of development and residential space standards, self-build and custom homebuilding).

The Council has defined a range of potential spatial strategies for the Plan that vary in focusing growth in the urban area to growth in villages and in new settlements proposed in both the A6 and A421 corridors. The consultation is welcoming views on these options and an opportunity to comment on the supporting documentation. The consultation runs until 3rd September 2021 at 5 pm. If you would like us to make a representation on your behalf as part of this consultation, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

3. Emerging Central Bedfordshire Plan

The Central Bedfordshire Local Plan has been found ‘sound’ by the Planning Inspector and was formally adopted at a Full Council meeting on 22^nd July 2021. The new Local Plan now carries full weight in the determination of planning applications within Central Bedfordshire’s administrative area. The Plan shall be subject to an early partial review within six months of its adoption and this shall create new opportunities for the promotion of sites.

For more information or to discuss your project with our Planning & Development team, please call Shannon Fuller, Assistant Planner, on 01234 362913 or email sef@robinsoandhall.co.uk

From 1^st August 2021, a new permitted development right known as ‘Class MA’ will come into force to allow for the change of use from commercial, business and service use (Class E) to residential use (Class C3).

Class E was introduced in September 2020 and covers a wide range of uses as listed below:

• Shops
• Financial and professional services
• Restaurants and cafes
• Offices and light industrial
• Medical or health services, creches, day nursery, indoor sports, gyms, etc

These new Permitted Development Rights allow a generous maximum floor space of 1,500 square metres to be converted to residential use without the need to apply for full planning permission and are a powerful tool to unlock the value of your property.

It will apply to buildings that have been in commercial, business and service use for two years and have been vacant for three continuous months prior to the application for prior approval. Unlike other permitted development for residential use, these new rights apply to buildings in conservation areas too.

There are conditions and limitations that apply and we will be happy to discuss these with you and advise if this route is appropriate for your case but we hope it will bring many new opportunities.

If you would like to discuss your ideas with our Planning & Development department, then please call Abel Bunu, Andrew Barr or Shannon Hubbard.