New measures have come into force, making it easier for property developers and owners to convert certain types of building to new uses.
From 6 April, new permitted development rights – effectively the right to make changes to a building without the need to apply for planning permission – will allow:
- shops to be converted into homes
- shops to be converted into banks and building societies
- certain buildings, including businesses and hotel, to change to registered nurseries
- agricultural buildings to be converted into homes; and
- agricultural buildings to change to schools and nurseries.
The move is designed to bring empty and redundant buildings back into productive use and support brownfield regeneration.
The new measures come almost a year after a similar initiative was brought in to give offices a new lease of life, by making it easier to convert them into homes.
In May 2013, the government introduced permitted development rights lifting the need for planning permission for a change of use from offices to residential use.
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