Recommendation 12

As already recommended, the Government should pause any further extensions of permitted development, including the new class MA right, which is due to take effect on 1 August, and conduct a review of all PDRs for change of use to residential. As part of this review, it should consider how to extend prior approval without also adding to the burden on local authorities. In particular, we recommend that local authorities be able to prevent the siting of homes in inappropriate locations, such as business and industrial parks. Among other amendments to prior approval, the Government should consider the following: • requiring the installation of windows (rather than just skylights) as part of the requirement for adequate natural light; • requiring the provision of outdoor private or communal amenity space; and • enabling local authorities to require that overall the housing delivered through PDRs contributes a mix of housing types that fits with their own assessment of housing need in their area.