Local Government Association Joins Harlow Councillors Calling for Permitted Development Rights to Be Scrapped

11th January, 2020

Terminus House is an example of poorly converted office blocks

Today, the Local Government Association (LGA) has called to end Permitted Development Rights.

This news comes after some high profile examples of the misuse of this scheme by developers here in Harlow. The LGA has highlighted the fact that 51% of new homes in Harlow in 2018/19 were office conversions.

Mark Ingall, the leader of Harlow council has continued to expose the terrble conditions some people are living in when accomodated in the office conversions, like Terminus House. He’s been able to come to arrangements with many councils taking advantage of Permitted Development Rules where by they will no longer be housing their residents in these conversions.

Councillor Mark Ingall says:

“I have long called for the government to review its permitted development rights so the LGA’s call for this policy to be scrapped is most welcome. The unplanned conversion of offices to residential homes has had detrimental effect on Harlow and has impacted on those who have been moved into such developments from other areas.

“We have taken our own action by introducing Article 4 Directions in employment areas so that any future conversions have to go through the full planning permission process. But there is an easier solution, with a stroke of a pen the government can simply scrap permitted development rights.

Abolishing permitted development rights would give us back control. It will ensure that new housing developments meet high standards and include affordable housing and that they are planned with the right infrastructure and support in place.”