Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, has announced that the government will introduce a change to permitted development rights to allow more flats to be created above shops without the need for planning permission.
Under new permitted development rights, from October 1st, up to two flats will be allowed to be created in office or storage space. Before it was just one without gaining planning permission.
The change is part of the government’s response to the review of high streets by Mary Portas.