Councils told to drop restrictions on office-to-resi conversions

In a written statement to Parliament, the planning minister accused ‘a small minority’ of town halls of trying to undermine the reforms.

Islington and Broxbourne Councils are among eight local authorities which have introduced ‘article 4’ directions removing the permitted development right.

Mr Boles said the two local authorities had applied the power ‘disproportionately’.

The Communities and Local Government department will write to them demanding they are more targeted in their restrictions. He said ministers were ‘minded’ to cancel directions which imposed unjustified or blanket restrictions.

‘A small minority of town halls are trying to undermine these reforms, not least, since they are unable to hit such builders with state levies or since they may have an irrational objection to more private housing,’ he said.

‘Moreover, those who seek to oppose these changes need to spell out exactly where they think new homes should go instead given the pressing demand for housing and the need to protect England’s beautiful countryside.’

Mr Boles also said some local authorities are inappropriately levying charges such as the community infrastructure levy and section 106 on office to residential conversions.

Permitted development schemes are supposed to avoid these charges and Mr Boles said new guidance would be issued to provide greater clarity.

Mr Boles heralded ‘significant take up’ of the scheme, citing a survey suggesting 2,250 applications were made in the first six months of the scheme.

While more than initially predicted by CLG, that figure would see the project miss Mr Boles stated target of 130,000 new homes over its three year life by some distance.

Exclusive research by Inside Housing revealed last year that take up of the scheme has been slow outside of London.