Rural communities risk missing out on vital local services due to
planning laws which have allowed a surge of almost 225 percent in
homes converted from barns and farm buildings without planning
permission in the past five years, councils warn today.
Latest figures show 734 homes in England were created as a
result of agricultural to residential conversions in 2019/20
under permitted development rights, which allow developers to
bypass the planning system, compared with 226 in 2015/16.
As they do not need full planning permission, developers
are not required to contribute towards local infrastructure, such
as roads, schools and GP surgeries, nor do they have to provide
any affordable housing.
Devon saw the highest number of agricultural buildings
turned into homes in 2019/20 with 127 conversions, followed by
Dorset (73), Kent (68), Northamptonshire (33) and Essex
(30).
The Local Government Association, which represents
councils, says it is concerned that rural areas could be missing
out on these essential local services.
It is calling on the Government to revoke the nationally
prescribed permitted development right, which has also been used
to convert nearly 65,000 homes from offices since 2015/16. This
alone could have led to the loss of more than 16,000 affordable
homes as a result.
Residents are also unable to have their say on these
conversions to ensure they meet high quality standards and are
both sustainable and suitable for their local area.
The LGA says that communities having a say on individual
planning applications is an integral part of ensuring a
locally-led planning system.
It is good that the Government has moved to allay the
negative impact on communities of permitted development rights by
introducing space standards for new homes. However, concerns
remain about the quality, design and safety, as well as location
of this type of housing. This also does not address the standards
of housing previously delivered under permitted
development.
Cllr David Renard, LGA housing spokesperson said:
“Councils are absolutely committed to working with the
Government to build the housing the country desperately
needs.
“However it is a growing concern that we are seeing more
and more barns and farm buildings in rural areas turned into
homes without planning permission.
“Residents in any area need to have the support of strong
infrastructure in place, whether that is schools, surgeries or
adequate road networks.
“If developers are not obliged to provide any of these,
then there is a real risk some communities could miss out on
these vital services.
“This is why it is really important that all new housing
developments go through a locally-led planning system, so these
checks can be made, with the oversight of local
communities.
“This needs to be at the heart of the Government’s planning
reforms, as we await the detail of its Planning Bill later this
year.”
Notes to editors
Live
tables on housing supply: net additional dwellings – see
tables 120 and 123 for permitted development conversions figures
used in this press release.
Recent polling by the LGA found eight in
10 residents want to be able to have their say on all new homes
built in their local community.
