7^th Apr 2015

Eric Pickles gave his final ministerial statement before the election; however he failed to confirm if the government would extend permitted development rights beyond May 2016. He firmly sat on the fence by stating that the idea needed further consideration.

The Property Industry has applauded the PDR, (Permitted Development Rights) that allows office buildings to be converted into residential properties. The project is welcomed as a quick way,without too much disruption to the communities, of providing new homes to combat the housing crisis.

Student accommodation is one area that is being helped by PDR, as by the nature of the buildings it offers development of modern student pods in a close vicinity to universities throughout cities in the UK.

A partner, at a real estate law firm, said: “Despite previously consulting on a proposed extension to office to residential permitted development rights, which provided some comfort to developers, the Government has now left developers in an uncertain situation. They are facing a strict deadline of just over a year to complete their developments and have these occupied for residential use.

“It appears that we are now seeing the result of the continued pressure that local authorities, which have strongly resisted these permitted development rights, have placed on the Government. With an impending general election, whether these rights will be extended is now completely ‘up in the air’ and anyone’s guess.”