London Councils sounds alarm over allowing offices to be turned into homes

Local authorities in London have sharply criticised government plans to allow developers to change offices into homes without applying for planning permission.

The London Councils group, which represents the capital’s 33 local authorities, warned that the proposed relaxation would “impact severely” on communities and “lead to a plethora of low quality homes in the capital”.

It said there would be no regulation to determine whether the homes were big enough, environmentally friendly or suitable for people with disabilities.

The organisation said the planning system should not be blamed for the lack of homes in London. Some 170,000 homes in the region already have planning permission but have not been built, it pointed out.

London Councils called on the government to examine the reasons for this lack of house-building, before altering existing planning guidance.

The group suggested that the fact that commercial land was cheaper than residential land meant suspension of the rules would incentivise developers to turn businesses into homes.

It warned that taking the obligation to pay for infrastructure – through a s.106 agreement – away from developers would see communities miss out on roads, schools and health facilities.

London Councils also predicted that the proposals would cause problems in relation to demand for school places, and reduce the number of jobs available locally.

London Councils Executive Member for Planning, Councillor Chris Roberts said: “Of course there is a huge demand for more homes in the capital but it must be recognised that people have very different needs from businesses. Changing an office into a home is not just about changing the layout of a building or adding some new furniture.

“Planning regulations are in place for a reason – to ensure that any new homes are fit for purpose, and also to make sure that residents moving into an area have access to the facilities - like schools, health centres and roads - that they need to go about their daily lives.”

See also: Class act