The Royal Institute
of British Architects (RIBA) has expressed significant concerns in its response
to the government consultation on planning reforms.
The consultation
proposes to extend a policy related to the change of use of buildings from
offices to homes, which has already been proven to lead to substandard housing.
The government’s Planning
Reform: Supporting the High Street and Increasing the Delivery of New Homes
consultation report suggests plans will introduce flexibility to react to local
circumstances by allowing employment space to be converted into residential
easily. However, in
its consultation response, the RIBA has warned of the damaging consequences
that would result from expanding a policy which since it was established in
2013 has led to a drastic decline in standards across England.
Under the new plans,
the volume of development that can go ahead without the proper scrutiny from
local authorities would be further increased. The reforms which have already
been put in place have seen homes of 13 square metres, which can be smaller than
some hotel rooms.
With the Hackitt
Review highlighting the scale of the UK’s building safety problems, it is
incredibly concerning that policies like permitted development which have
demonstrably lowered standards are being pursued.
RIBA President Ben
Derbyshire said: “We need homes that are sustainable, long-lasting, affordable
and contribute to the health and happiness of the people that live in them.
These proposals would enable homes to be built without any scrutiny -
undermining the planning system and resulting in a race to the bottom to create
the cheapest possible housing. It is unacceptable that families end up living
in developments like these, with not enough space to live well.
"If we are
serious about tackling the housing crisis, creating homes that last and
reforming the high street, we need a properly resourced planning system that
enables local authorities to consider the merits of proposals on a case by case
basis, not a policy that allows shoddy, small and inadequate homes.”
