Minister for Housing questioned on Permitted Development Rights

• Watch Parliament TV: Permitted Development Rights 
• Inquiry: Permitted Development Rights 
• Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Permitted Development Rights (PDR) are rights to make certain changes to buildings without having to seek planning permission. Under recent changes, the Government has sought to revitalise high streets and increase housing supply by making it easier for landlords to change the use of their premises. In particular, it will now be possible for most commercial premises that have been vacant for three months to be converted to residential units. The Government argues this will boost footfall and therefore economic recovery.

Over the course of the inquiry, concerns have been raised about the impact of these changes on the ability of local authorities to plan development and shape communities, about the quality of housing permitted development tends to produce and about the negative impact on high streets and town centres. In particular, some are concerned that the three-month vacancy period will not deter landlords from evicting viable businesses in order to make a quick profit from a residential conversion.

The Committee will question the Minister about the aims of the PDR system and how it relates to broader government goals for housing, development and regeneration. The Committee will also seek the Ministers’ response to criticisms of the PDR system heard over the course of the inquiry, particularly in relation to local authorities ability to plan, the quality of housing it produces and the impact on high streets and town centres.

Witnesses

Wednesday 16 June

At 3.30pm

• Christopher Pincher MP, Minister for Housing, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Simon Gallagher, Director of Planning, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: Parliamentary copyright