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Westminster Council to attempt to force office-to-resi conversions through planning system
Westminster City Council has introduced an Article 4 direction to force office-to-residential developments to go through its planning system.
Government policy usually allows office-to-resi conversions to bypass the planning process through ‘permitted development rights’, meaning councils cannot block schemes or demand affordable housing requirements.
Westminster estimates it loses office space equivalent to The Shard – the UK’s tallest building – every year through the policy.
It has lost more than 300,000 square metres of office floor space since the legislation was introduced in May 2013, with another 737,000 set to disappear through office-to-resi schemes already permitted.
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Research by the Local Government Association released last week found that 7,644 affordable homes have been lost through the policy in England over the past two years.
The Article 4 direction will allow Conservative-run Westminster to require planning applications for changes of use to housing.
It will now consult on a report outlining its reasons for introducing the direction, before housing secretary Sajid Javid will be given a chance to alter or block its proposal.
If Mr Javid makes no objections after 12 months, Westminster will be able to force office-to-resi conversions to submit planning applications from May 2019.
“We are committed to ensuring the right kind of growth in Westminster, and this includes ensuring the continued prosperity of our residents, of London as a whole and, indeed, of the whole country,” said Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for planning and public realm at Westminster City Council.
“We have experienced a rapid loss of office space in Westminster. It’s a worrying trend. Not only does this change the character and feel of our communities but our reputation as a political and professional centre relies upon maintaining the office spaces which allow business to flourish.”
