Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 12
12
Paragraph: 81
As already recommended, the Government should pause any further extensions of permitted development, including the...
Recommendation
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.
Paragraph Reference:
81
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Our wider objectives are to make the planning system work better for communities, delivering more homes through sustainable development, building pride in place and supporting levelling up. Good design and placemaking, delivering more homes in the right places with the necessary infrastructure, should be at the heart of a modern planning system. Our approach to permitted development rights will continue to support our broad strategy. For example, we have already taken steps to allow for local consideration in respect of location within the Class MA right through prior approval. To ensure the quality of future homes delivered, all new homes must, as a minimum, meet the Nationally Described Space Standards and provide adequate natural light in all habitable rooms. Local planning authorities are well versed in making such planning judgments. We continue to keep permitted development rights under review. We continue to support making effective use of existing buildings through the change of use. While the constraints of the site may place limitations, as it would with a planning application, such changes of use are important in reducing the need to build on greenfield sites, limit carbon emissions and the avoid the blight that empty buildings can bring. To go further and introduce a requirement for access to outdoor space would add burdens to development delivered under permitted development rights which go beyond development delivered under a planning application as local planning authorities have, and continue to, grant planning permission for flats that do not have outdoor space where they meet local need. Permitted developments rights create new homes and support housing delivery, providing additional homes for sale or rent, some of which may not otherwise come through the planning system. While the rights make an important contribution to housing delivery, they none-the-less have contributed a total of 6% of the national total of net additional housing since April 2015. It is vital therefore that, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework, local planning authorities continue to plan for the volume and balance of housing types to meet local need, and to set this out in their local plan. Permitted developments rights do not currently allow for such local planning policies to be considered. The market will influence the type and mix of homes delivered under permitted development rights. The requirement that new homes meet the nationally described space standards may also bring a shift in the balance of the mix of homes delivered in the future. Adding a requirement to the right to allow the local planning authority to consider whether the mix of housing types meets local need, would add to the complexity of the rights both for applicants and local planning authorities, however, as with all permitted development rights, we continue to keep the position under review. We are committed to embedding good design in the planning system. Through the Bill we are requiring every local planning authority to produce a design code for its area, based on effective community engagement and reflecting local character and design preferences. Design Codes will become integral to the new planning system.