Government amendments to the permitted development regime came into force today with some significant changes to how buildings can be used and the extent to which homeowners can extend their properties without requiring planning permission. The headline changes allow office buildings to be converted to residential use and increased limits for householder extensions from 3m to 8m without planning permission. However, in order to facilitate these changes a supposedly more straightforward and prompt prior approval procedure will now need to be carried out involving local Council planning departments.

In summary, the new permitted development regime allows the following changes although almost all are subject to the prior approval procedure:

  • Buildings in office use to change to residential houses or flats;
  • The right to extend your home to the rear by up to 8 metres at single storey height;
  • Offices, care homes, hotels, cinemas and other leisure buildings to change use to state-funded schools;
  • The use of almost any suitable building as a state funded school for a temporary period of 1 academic year, and also the right to extend and alter school premises without planning permission;
  • Existing agricultural buildings to a range of uses including retail, restaurant/café, office, light industrial and leisure uses (floorspace limits apply);
  • Flexibility to allow retail, financial, restaurant/café, food, drink, office, light industrial, storage, hotel and leisure uses to changes between these over a temporary 2 year period, with a maximum floor area of 150m2;
  • Increase in the amount of floor area that can change use between office, industrial premises and storage/distribution uses without planning permission.

For homeowners the prior approval procedure will involve the preparation of plans, a submission to the local planning authority and consultation with surrounding neighbours over a 21 day period. Should objections be raised and should the local Council not be satisfied with the information provided then homeowners may be required to submit a full planning application following a 42 day period. For commercial or schools providers the prior approval procedure concerns any transport (parking, comings and goings etc), contamination or flooding impacts over a 56 day period. The planning fee amounts for these applications are yet to be confirmed.

The new regime represents a valuable opportunity to boost housing supply and cut through planning delays for both businesses and schools. However, concern remains about the ability of under resourced Councils to administer the prior approval system effectively.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.