The Government has announced that in the future, new homes delivered through Permitted Development Rights will have to meet the nationally prescribed minimum space standards for new housing.
Permitted development rights presently allow a range of buildings such as offices, agricultural buildings and some shops to be converted to homes under certain circumstances without the need for full planning permission. The homes are instead applied for through the ‘prior approval’ process, and the government suggests that over 60,000 homes have been provided through prior approval over the last 4 years.
The Government has now announced that in a change to the current regulations, in the future, homes to be provided through permitted development rights will have to meet the Nationally Described Space Standards. The space standard begins at 37m² of floorspace for a new one bed flat with a shower room (39m² with a bathroom).
We expect the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 as amended to be updated in due course to reflect this change.
If you have any queries in respect of this announcement then please do not hesitate to contact us.
