Eric Pickles has left open the question of whether controversial rules allowing offices to be converted into homes will be extended.
In his final ministerial statement ahead of the election, in which several planning changes were updated, the secretary of state for communities and local government chose not to confirm whether or not the government would extend permitted development rights beyond May 2016, opting instead to say the idea needed further consideration.
With Labour cool on the policy and the outcome of the election deeply uncertain, it leaves significant doubt over the future of the policy following a government consultation on an extension last year.
Sources said the decision to leave open the office-to-resi question, despite using the guidance to facilitate more change of use from shops to restaurants and leisure uses, indicated the government had “gone cool” on the idea of extending the policy.
With thousands of office-to-resi schemes yet to start and the current rules requiring any office-to-residential conversions using PDR to complete by 30 May next year, it leaves a major question over how many homes will be delivered by the policy.
Pickles’ updated guidance did however confirm new rules allowing the conversion of distribution and storage facilities, as well as casinos, into houses.
