UK Housing Secretary says permitted development provides ‘big opportunity’ to bulldoze buildings
According to an article in AJ Architect’s Journal last week, UK Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said the expansion of permitted development rights provides a ‘big opportunity’ to demolish buildings from the 1960s and 1970s.
The recent expansion of PD rights means that developers can tear down buildings and rebuild housing on the same site without planning permission. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has said the expansion of permitted development rights provides a ‘big opportunity’ to demolish buildings from the 1960s and 1970s; however, previously, he supported the re-use of and improvement of older buildings. This about face, or dis-jointed policy thinking, goes against the Government’s commitment to produce zero carbon emissions by 2050, as the energy involved in the demolition and re-build of buildings is substantial compared to re-use and improvement. At the very least the recycling of same-site building materials should be given significant weight in permitted development and planning decisions.
The surprising comment comes after much criticism of the new Permitted Development rules involving easier changes of use and upwards extensions to detached houses and blocks of flats. Although there is a more obvious economic benefit to these changes, the route to gain permission appears to be as likely to be held up as full planning applications.
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