Rhino is delighted with the latest news about changes in planning rules for change of use – (Construction News)

So how do Boris’ plans measure up? New regulations promise greater freedom for buildings and land in town centres. Developers won’t need planning permission to change the use of a building, meaning new homes can be forged from vacant and redundant buildings.

Under the new rules, existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily.

However, while a wider range of buildings will be allowed to change to residential use without planning permission, pubs, libraries, village shops and businesses essential to the lifeblood of communities will not be covered by the new flexibilities.

Builders will also no longer need a normal planning application to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes.

These changes are scheduled to come into effect by September. The Prime Minister also announced that work will begin to look at how land owned by the government can be managed more effectively.

Ahead of the Spending Review, a new cross-government strategy look at how public sector land can be managed and released so it can be put to better use. This would include housebuilding, improving the environment, contributing to net zero goals and injecting growth opportunities into communities across the country.