Amended Permitted Development Rights Now in Force

Amendments to the General Permitted Development Order 2015 came into force today (6 April 2016) which make permanent the previously temporary right to change a building used as an office into residential use.

A change of use from office to residential use can be secured through the prior approval process which gives the local planning authority (LPA) the ability to assess a scheme with regard to the transport and highways impacts of the development, contamination risks, and flooding risks on the site. In addition to this, a new fourth test is now in place which also allows the LPA to consider the impact of noise from commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the development.

The new PD rights require the conversion to be completed within three years of the date that prior approval is secured. LPA’s which currently have areas exempt from the permitted development rights (such as the Central Activities Zone in London) have until 31 May 2019 to replace the exemption with an Article 4 Direction, if they wish to do so.

New permitted development rights were also introduced today which allow the change of use of a launderette to residential use, as well as the change of use of a building in light industrial use to residential use (within a three year period from 1 October 2017 until 30 September 2020).