Boles' 'Ill-Founded' Intervention Will Cost Jobs and Affordable Homes

Planning Minister Nick Boles has blocked a local authority's attempt to prevent empty office space being turned into flats. And Islington Council has raged that Boles' “ill-founded, eleventh-hour intervention" which will mean that the borough will lose out on jobs and affordable homes. Last year, Islington Council became the first local authority in the country to make an Article 4 direction to remove permitted development rights (PDRs) to convert from office to residential. Introduced by the coalition in May 2013, PDRs allow developers to convert office space into homes without having to apply for planning permission. However, Islington Council's Article 4 direction would have removed PDRs across the whole borough from 15 July. But Boles has revoked the council’s directions - citing incorrect figures in his reasons for doing so. Read more on 24dash.

New Planning Regulation Will Help Create Jobs and Low Cost Homes

Brighton & Hove City Council has introduced measures to protect office space in central Brighton. Councillors have confirmed an article 4 direction which means developers must obtain planning permission to change the use of their offices to residential space. The council made the decision following a temporary change in planning law introduced by the government in May 2013 that has removed the need to obtain planning permission for change of use from office space to residential. The council and their partners in economic development of the city fear that this could affect the city’s business growth. The Council is one of the first in the country to implement an article 4 direction in the city to ensure owners of office buildings still need planning permission. It will also enable the council to negotiate community benefits and affordable housing if change of use is recommended. Read more on the Brighton’s Future website.

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.