LOTS more to come?

Don Foster made quite a big point about commercial to residential conversions in his speech to the Empty Homes Conference last Monday (26th November). He indicated that priority access to new funding would be given to the Portas Pilot areas. In addition, Living-over-the-Shop and other conversion initiatives look set to receive a boost via a more relaxed planning regime in the not-too-distant future. The current consultation on changes to the General Permitted Development Order (aiming to allow larger extensions withouth requiring planning permission) makes reference to forthcoming changes in point 8 of the introduction on page 3: Other changes to permitted development are also being taken forward separately: making it easier for commercial properties to be converted to residential use; and encouraging the reuse of existing buildings through making changes of use easier. These changes have been subject to consultation already, so are not included in this paper. Changes to allow two flats rather than one over shop premises have already been implemented so this must mean some further measures. Empty homes practitioners who are in a position to promote conversion work are advised to prepare the ground for new opportunities soon.