Planning rules limiting affordable homes – council chiefs

than 13,500 affordable homes have potentially been lost in the past four years by rules which allow offices to be turned into housing without needing planning permission, town hall leaders claim.

The Local Government Association (LGA) looked at the number of office conversions carried out under the permitted development right –whichallowshomestobecreatedwithoutgoingthroughthe planning system.

The LGA argued permitted development rules leave communities unable to ensure developers provide affordable homes as part of a project or ensure supporting infrastructuresuchasroads,schoolsand health services are in place.

It found that, since 2015, there were 54,162 new homes converted from offices under permitted development in England.

The LGA estimates this has potentially led to the loss of 13,540 affordable homes.

Coun David Renard, the LGA's housing spokesman, said: "Serious concerns remain over the high numbers of homes which continue to be convertedfromofficeswithout planning permission.

"Permitted development rulesareresultinginthealarmMore ing potential loss of thousands of desperately needed affordable homes.

"By scrapping permitted development rules, the Government can give councils and local communities the ability to shape the area they live in and ensure homes are built to highstandardswiththenecessary infrastructure in place."

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said: "Since 2010 we have delivered over 464,000 new affordable homes, and we have abolished the council borrowing cap so theycanbuildevenmoresocial housing.