Permitted development rights for changes of use
The government has brought in a range of new permitted development rights to speed up the construction of new homes. The Mayor is working closely with government to support their overall aims to increase the supply of good quality homes, while also ensuring that the supply of valuable employment space in London isn’t compromised.
What are permitted development rights?
Permitted development rights allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without the need for a full planning application. These rights exist under the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO).
Some types of permitted development allow people to extend their home, while others allow for the change of one use to another. There is often a requirement for ‘prior approval’ for development carried out under permitted development.
The Government’s Planning Practice Guidance gives more information on permitted development rights.
What is an Article 4 Direction?
An Article 4 Direction is a tool that can be used by a Local Planning Authority to remove permitted development rights in a specific geographical area. In doing so, the authority would then require a planning permission to be obtained for development.
To ensure that London’s key business locations are safeguarded, the Mayor of London supports a co-ordinated approach to introducing Article 4 Directions. The Mayor, in liaison with London Councils and the boroughs, continues to provide strategic support to help the boroughs achieve this.
In July 2023 government consulted on a range of proposals related to permitted development rights. The Mayor’s response to this consultation can be downloaded here.
In July 2021, the Mayor published strategic evidence to support Article 4 Directions related to commercial (Class E) to residential permitted development rights.
The evidence supports a co-ordinated approach to Article 4 Directions to help safeguard the important contributions of the Central Activities Zone and Northern Isle of Dogs to the London and UK economy, and to ensure that town centres and high streets remain vibrant places at the heart of local communities. The evidence also supports Article 4 Directions to safeguard industrial areas and creative production space and to support their important role in the London economy.
In December 2020 government consulted on proposals to introduce new permitted development rights allowing the change of use of properties in the Commercial, Business and Service use class (Class E) to residential. The Mayor of London responded to this consultation highlighting the significant potential negative impacts associated with the proposed rights on central London, town centres, high streets, businesses and communities.
In Spring 2021 the Housing Communities and Local Government Committee (HCLG) called for evidence to support their inquiry to examine the government’s approach to permitted development rights in respect of large-scale development, commercial-to-residential conversions and changes of use between different types of commercial premises. The inquiry explored the role of permitted development rights in supporting economic growth and their impact on local authorities, developer contributions, the provision of services and social housing and the supply and quality of new homes.
The Mayor of London submitted evidence to the inquiry highlighting the significant negative impacts of permitted development rights in London.
In February 2018 the Mayor published strategic evidence to support London borough Article 4 Directions in London's nationally significant office locations. When government exemptions expired in 2019, this helped to retain these important locations, safeguarding against loss to residential and maintaining their important contribution to the London and UK economy.
When office to residential permitted development rights were introduced in 2013, the Mayor was successful in securing an exemption for key business districts in and around central London. This was in recognition of their significance as nationally important office locations. Details of the Mayor’s exemption request and associated evidence are contained in the links below:
- Covering letter from Mayor of London to The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP
- Mayor exemption request for nationally important office locations
- Jones Lang LaSalle report for Mayor
- Strategic context for London borough exemption applications
Since 2013 several London boroughs introduced Article 4 Directions to safeguard locations important for business in other parts of London, including town centres, high streets and industrial areas. With the help of the Mayor’s strategic evidence, Boroughs in and around central London introduced Article 4 Directions for London’s nationally significant office locations in May 2019.
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