So, it looks as if the change of use of buildings from offices in Class B1(a) to residential in Class C3 will become “permitted development” (subject to a prior notification procedure) at the end of this month.  The ability to change the use of agricultural buildings to a range of other possible uses without the need for full planning permission also looks as if it will come into force at the same time.

The merits or otherwise of these provisions may be debated long and hard in the coming weeks and months, and I do not intend to enter into that debate now.

The one aspect of the proposed regulations that I find most puzzling however is the condition which will prevent the new changes of use to be achieved without planning permission if the building involved is a Listed Building.  I do not understand why Listed Buildings would require separate consideration as to their use for these specific new use classes.  Permitted changes of use in all other existing cases are not prevented if the building is Listed, so why should that condition now be included for the new permitted changes?

Listed Building Consent would still be required for any alterations to the building if it was Listed, and I understand that planning permission might still separately be required for alterations to any building where its external appearance is materially affected.  Why then, in order to establish the principle of changing the use of an office building to residential, should one not be able to achieve that if the building is Listed?  To me this makes little sense and I think is something the Government should review and amend before the new Order formally comes into force.