New changes to permitted development rules with more to follow

The government has announced changes to planning permitted development regulations from 1 August which they claim are designed to make it ‘easier to build better homes’.

Last week the government made changes to the General Permitted Development Order 2015 to allow for the construction of up to two storeys of new flats on the top of existing purpose-built, detached blocks of flats, along with other changes to make it easier to convert buildings to residential use without planning permission.

PM Boris Johnson said planning laws would be further streamlined in ‘the most radical reforms to the planning system since the Second World War’ through further legislation planned to come into effect by September 2020.

On 21 July the MHCLG issued further changes to permit demolishing and rebuilding of disused buildings for residential purpose and a fast track process for owners of residential properties two extend up by two floors.

Importantly, the building regulations will still apply. 

Further information

Find out more about the government announcement here or the permitted development changes on the Planning Portal website. There is also a report from UCL and the University of Liverpool into the effects of existing permitted development rights that found permitted development conversions did have some negative effect on residential environments.

Updated 2/10/20 - the Government have announced that new homes delivered through permitted development will have to meet space standards - details here.