Councils Told To Drop Restrictions on Office to Resi Conversions

Nick Boles will write to two local authorities telling them to drop restrictions to permitted developments for office to residential 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 CLG will write to them demanding they are more targeted in their restrictions. Read more on Inside Housing.