Changes to Permitted Development Rights

22nd July 2020

On 21 July 2020, the Government confirmed new permitted development right (PDR) rules that will enable property owners to progress with upward extensions on detached blocks of purpose-built flats without planning permission. They will also allow developers to demolish empty buildings and rebuild them as homes or convert empty commercial blocks in town centres, such as shops and offices, into new homes without full planning applications.

Mario Carrozzo, CEO of Caridon Property, part of Caridon Group, comments:

“Coronavirus has accelerated the rise of e-commerce by an estimated 4-6 years and consequently the demise of the high street. Despite calls to send workers back to offices, the reality is that the world of work has changed forever. Demand for office and retail space is going to continue to fall as organisations restructure to enable more people to work from home and re-distribute budgets to accommodate online demand.

Combining the consequences of the pandemic with the country’s chronic housing shortage, we welcome the new rules. They will not only help dilapidated buildings be revived and repurposed quickly, providing much needed housing, they will generate employment in the construction sector and support increased footfall for surviving businesses.

Caridon supports the Government’s initiative and will continue to work within the Government’s guidelines to deliver much needed housing to both private and social renters.”