Increased housing construction, yet affordability remains elusive...
Permitted Development Rights and the Affordable Housing Crisis
The use of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in the UK has sparked concern among local authorities and organisations such as the Local Government Association (LGA), due to its potential impact on affordable housing. PDR allows certain types of development, like office-to-residential conversions, to proceed without full planning permission, speeding up housing delivery but often reducing the delivery of affordable housing units.
Impact on Affordable Housing
One of the main concerns is the reduction in the supply of affordable housing. PDR developments frequently bypass affordable housing contributions, such as Section 106 agreements, leading to fewer affordable homes being built compared to traditional planning routes. Homes created under PDR may also not meet the space, quality, or amenity standards typically required in full planning permissions, affecting long-term affordability and suitability.
Local authorities also face challenges in influencing the mix, design, and proportion of affordable housing in PDR schemes, which undermines local strategies for meeting housing needs.
Calls for Change from the Local Government Association
In response, the LGA has called for reform of PDR rules to restore local democratic control and ensure affordable housing delivery. They argue that PDR should either be curtailed or revised to reinstate the requirement for affordable housing contributions. The LGA emphasises the need for planning reforms that balance the need to boost housing supply with genuine affordability and local accountability, rather than simply allowing unchecked development that may not address local housing crises.
Greater transparency, local input, and safeguards are also advocated to ensure new homes truly meet the needs of communities, including affordable and social housing.
Context
Planning reforms aiming to increase housing supply have faced criticism for insufficient emphasis on affordable homes, with calls for stronger measures to ensure developers contribute to affordable housing stock and for increased investment in social housing. The LGA, representing local councils, is a key voice in this debate, pressing the government to reconsider reliance on PDR mechanisms that may undermine affordable housing targets and place strain on council resources.
Since 2015, 95,962 new houses have been provided, according to the LGA. However, the amount of housing for affordable or social rent in England has fallen from around 20% in 2000 to 16% in 2023. The increase in new homes is due to their conversion from offices under permitted development rights, where full planning permission is not required.
The Local Government Association published research showing over 23,000 affordable homes have been lost due to bypassing planning permission. The government has set an ambitious target to deliver 1.5 million more homes over the parliament, but experts note that the actual figure of office-to-residential conversions will be higher than the number reported due to the legislation being introduced in May 2013, and data is not publicly available at a national level until 15.
The LGA believes that revoking permitted development rights will ensure new homes are of a decent standard and will restore local planning control. They also argue that councils are losing out on Section 106 contributions for infrastructure and affordable housing due to the use of permitted development rights.
In related news, refugees have been granted more time to find homes. Castle Howard restoration and rewilding has also begun, but these facts are not directly related to the main topic of the article.
- The local government, through the Local Government Association (LGA), has expressed concern over Permitted Development Rights (PDR) impacting the delivery of affordable housing in the UK.
- PDR developments often bypass Section 106 agreements, resulting in fewer affordable homes being built in comparison to traditional planning routes.
- The LGA has proposed reforming the PDR rules to restore local democratic control and ensure delivery of affordable housing, encouraging a balance between housing supply boost and local accountability.
- The LGA advocates for increased transparency, local input, and safeguards to ensure new homes cater to the needs of communities, such as affordable and social housing.
- The LGA's research indicates that over 23,000 affordable homes have been lost due to bypassing planning permission, prompting calls for reviewing reliance on PDR mechanisms in the housing-market and real-estate industry.
