Recommendation 98

It was acknowledged amongst our witnesses that “there is a need for a mechanism to enable conversion of surplus retail space to other uses” 186 and RICS suggested that the conversion of long-vacant units into residential properties prevented buildings falling into disrepair and revitalised high streets. 187 In particular, introducing housing on the upper stories of retail premises could serve to make high streets feel safer and livelier, especially in evenings. However, PDRs, especially with no vacancy requirement before the conversion, were said to “cut across any attempt at joined-up thinking”. 188 We also heard that the approach was likely to be unnecessary, as the planning system was willing to allow a high street to flex and change but would deliver this in a more coherent and effective way. 189 For example, Professor Matthew Carmona suggested that more proactive planning could see the densification of retail in specific priority areas and allow the controlled shrinkage of retail and conversion to housing: “planned shrinkage can encourage an intensification in the frontage that remains—including by building residential over and behind retail and thus avoiding the problem of permanent holes appearing in frontages”. 190