Regional investment specialist Palace Capital is to convert Hudson House in Toft Green, York, into 139 apartments through permitted development rights.
Palace were told by York Council on 4 February that no approval would be required for the conversion, but that the use of the building for residential purposes needs to commence no later than 30 May 2016.
Palace has said the fact that the approval notice refers to 30 May 2016 will not prevent works being completed after this date as the government has indicated that it will extend the time for the permitted development right.
It believes that recent guidance from central government means the approval will be valid until early 2019.
This is also backed by the UK communities secretary’s response to an enquiry by the chair of the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee about permitted development legislation (in December 2015) which stated: “We will allow for those applicants who already have prior approval or who secure a new prior approval to have three years from the date of their approval in which to complete the change of use.”
Hudson House is a 103,000 sq ft office building built in the 1960s that was originally occupied by Network Rail. It is located very close to York railway station and the recently acquired offices of the City of York Council.
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