Justine Greening MP
House of Commons
London,
28 Howards Lane
London
SW15 6NQ
SW1A 0AA
8th December 2014
Dear Ms. Greening,
Extending Permitted Development right for offices to residential
We write to you concerning the Department for Communities and Local Government
(DCLG) proposal to extend permitted development rights to convert offices to housing
and remove all exemptions.
The Putney Society is already greatly concerned by the loss of office space in Putney as
a result of Wandsworth Borough Council (WBC) approvals for major new developments
retaining less office space than required by the Local Plan. (Although we are also aware
that WBC applied for derogation from the requirement to allow conversion of offices to
residential and realise that their hands are tied to some extent.) The existing permitted
development (PD) of offices to housing has resulted in the rapid reduction of small office
premises available for rent in Putney. We consider that the extension of the PD regime
will denude our area of office space for small enterprises.
We are increasingly aware of small professional firms, accountants, and architects etc
who are now under notice to vacate their offices and who are finding increasing difficulty
in finding new premises. We are aware of small companies living cheek by jowl with
domestic dwellings in shared areas of buildings.
It has been clear for some time that owners with property classified for offices can profit
from obtaining planning classification for residential use due to the premium attributable
to the latter. To pursue this incentive, owners have allowed premises to become derelict
and have asked for excessive rents to inhibit occupation thereafter claiming that there is
no demand.
The Putney Society has long been of the view that local offices are “good neighbours”,
providing better quality employment opportunity, being quiet outside of working hours
and reducing the transport demand on our overcrowded stations. Additionally and
importantly, offices have been hugely important in maintaining the viability of local
shops, restaurants, and other services by providing day time trade.
The Putney Society
The amenity society for Putney and Roehampton. Registered Charity No. 263242
www.putneysociety.org.uk
Permitted development was originally postulated as bringing unused office space back
into use. In Putney this is far from the reality. In Putney small businesses are being
thrown out of their offices. We find it difficult to square this with the Government’s
enthusiasm to support small businesses as an engine of employment and the economy.
We find it surprising that WBC’s original request for exemption from office to residential
PD for the Putney town centre was declined by the Government when both are of the
same political persuasion.
The net effect of allowing PD to be extended together with the other causes of the loss
of office space in Putney will be that Putney becomes a sterile dormitory town as better
paid corporate employment opportunities are lost and our local retail shops suffer. We
are yet again surprised that the Government’s commitment to Localism early in this
parliament are contradicted by its centrally directed action in the case of PD and
particularly the proposal to extend PD. We are aware of great concerns on the matter
also being express by adjoining amenity societies including Wimbledon, Richmond and
Kensington.
We would therefore request that you speak up to resist the proposed extension of
Permitted Development rights for office to residential.
We would be pleased to hear your views on this on the matter.
Yours sincerely,
Judith Chegwidden
Chair, Putney Society
Cc R Govindia