DAYLIGHT & SUNLIGHT PLANNING
Shining a light on permitted development By Manuella Nguessan, Surveyor, Neighbourly Matters, Rapleys
From 1st August 2020, legislative changes in Planning were made to the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO). More specifically, with Class O (Office to residential) conversions, the revision includes an additional requirement that all habitable rooms within the conversion must have internal layouts that receive adequate access to light. In May 2013, the government amended the General Permitted Development Order to allow the conversion of office space to flats or house without having to submit a planning application to the local authority. With Class O conversions, there is no maximum size
14
March/April 2021
requirement for the converted office block and there are no minimum or maximum limit set on the number of dwellings you can convert to. This has had the effect of increasing the supply of new homes whilst stimulating the economy and regenerating parts of towns and cities across England and Wales. The change last summer was informed by research into the quality standard of homes delivered through change of use permitted development rights published on 21 July 2020. This report highlighted that homes created through planning permission are of a higher standard and have
www.daylightingmag.co.uk
