Government proposals to allow developers to change offices into homes without applying for planning permission will impact severely on local communities, London Councils has warned. The organisation, which represents the capital’s 33 local authorities, has expressed fears that the removal of these planning rules will lead to a plethora of low quality homes in the capital – with no regulation to determine whether they are big enough, environmentally friendly or suitable for people with disabilities. London Councils believes that the government should instead look into the reasons for this lack of housebuilding, before attempts to alter existing planning guidance are made. Because commercial land is cheaper than residential land, suspending these planning rules would create an incentive to turn businesses into homes – but it would also remove the responsibility of developers to ensure the needs of local residents are met. Read more on 24dash.
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