Recommendation 8

We broadly welcome the new use class E, as we can see the advantages of greater flexibility, but it should not permit development to bypass the sequential test or risk the loss of medical centres. As we have already recommended, the Government should review the role of permitted development rights within the planning system. As part of that review, we recommend it consider amending the use class regime to prevent out-of-town commercial and business premises from being converted to retail without having first gone through the sequential test and to prevent the loss of medical centres through change of use within the new use class E.