NEW rules on converting light industrial premises into housing have just been announced by the government, but parties wanting to benefit from the changes need to act quickly as the regulations require planning approval by the end of September 2017.

The changes to the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) expand upon those previously made in May 2013.

The previous changes enabled change of use between use classes from B1(a) (offices) to C3 (residential). These changes were taken up by landowners, landlords and owner-occupiers of office buildings and this is evidenced by the number of offices converted to residential in the centre of Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton and elsewhere across the South West of England.

If you walk through Southernhay Gardens in Exeter, you will see that the once bustling office campus is now almost fully residential, with the exception of a few buildings still occupied by tenants with tenancies coming to an end shortly.

The recent changes to the GPDO will be of interest to landowners, landlords and owner-occupiers of buildings that fall within use class B1(c) light industrial. The further changes enable change of use from B1(c) light industrial to C3 (residential). These changes are a temporary provision. The main restrictions are that the buildings must have been used solely for a light industrial use on March 19, 2014 (or, if vacant on that date, when it was last in use), cannot be greater than 500 sq. m. (5,382 sq. ft.) and must not be listed. There is a notification procedure, which is the same as the original change of use of office to residential.

As with all changes to the GPDO, it will be important to carefully assess each building that comes forward for change of use. Many light industrial buildings and estates have been operating for a considerable period of time and will not have a clear definition of what their use has been and whether they comply with B1(c) use class. Landowners, landlords and owner-occupiers should also be aware that the GPDO currently allows other commercial premises to change to residential. These include Class A1 (shops), Class A2 (financial and professional services), Class B8 (storage or distribution centre), betting office, pay day loan shop or launderette, amusement arcade or casino, subject to specific criteria.

If you are a landowner, landlord or owner-occupier and are interested in taking advantage of the window of opportunity created by the changes to the GPDRs you will need to take specialist planning and development advice, then a multi-disciplinary firm, such as Greenslade Taylor Hunt, can advise. For further information on how to take advantage of this current window of opportunity, contact Mark Chugg on 01823-219993 or Russell Williams on 01460-238380.