LGA “strongly” opposed to Government plans to extend permitted development rights
The Local Government Association (LGA) has said it is "dismayed" and strongly opposes the Government's aims to extend permitted development (PD) rights to allow shops to be converted into flats and extensions to be built without planning permission.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, launched a consultation on plans to extend permitted development rights in July 2023.
However, the LGA's response to the Government consultation on the reforms, which was held between 24 July and 25 September, raised fears about locally-led planning and councils' ability to protect the unique characteristics of their areas.
In its response, the LGA made a general call for permitted development rights to be "urgently revoked".
It said: "[Permitted development] is an ad hoc, disconnected approach to development that undermines councils' and their communities' strategic long-term decisions and place-making ambitions.
"It also affects their ability to make decisions that reflect local need and preserve and enhance the unique and distinctive character of their area.
"We cannot see how the Government intends to enshrine both a locally-led planning system with emboldened local leaders through powers in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, whilst also pushing forward with new PD rights which disenfranchise those same leaders."
The LGA also warned that the plan to extend permitted development means that councils will lose out on more Section 106 contributions, which could fund infrastructure and affordable housing "at a time when these are most needed".
It said that if the Government is minded to retain and expand permitted development rights, then it must urgently introduce mechanisms by which affordable housing and infrastructure contributions can be secured in order to meet Local Plan requirements.
As part of this, the LGA said it would call for a review and uplift of the fees charged on prior approval notifications.
Strong opposition to the extension of permitted development rights was also voiced by the Town and County Planning Association, which argued that the measures would undermine local democratic control over the quality of placemaking to create sustainable, resilient, healthy and prosperous communities.
The TCPA's response raised similar points to the LGA, including an argument that the reforms would undermine the plan-led system, reduce Section 106 contributions and lead to more houses in areas without appropriate amenities.
Adam Carey
