BRADFORD figures have urged the new Government to re-think “permitted development” rules that allow developers to convert office buildings into flats without the need for planning permission.

Introduced by the Conservative Government, the rules have seen numerous empty office buildings in Bradford city centre converted into residential use in recent years.

Under the rules Councils can only object to such developments if they have serious highway safety or environmental health concerns.

It was part of a push to increase housing stock and revitalised empty buildings.

But many of the developments in Bradford led to concerns over the size and quality of the apartments.

Although new rules that required flats to be a minimum of 37 square metres were introduced by Government in 2021, numerous conversions had already taken place before then.

The Telegraph & Argus asked Bradford Council if it planned to raise the issue with the new Labour Government.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said, Executive for Regeneration, Planning and Transport: “As with any new government we’ll be engaging and having conversations on a number of areas and our concerns over Permitted Development are something we’ve expressed previously.

"The government have already announced support for more planning officers to help councils drive growth, which will be key for creating jobs and opportunities in the future, and it’s important we get the balance right and ensure an inclusive growth that delivers good quality developments that stand the test of time.”

Si Cunningham, Chair of Bradford Civic Society, has been highly critical of permitted development rules – especially those that have seen city centre buildings converted into flats.

He said: “I would certainly welcome the opportunity for national Government to look again at the impact of Permitted Development as part of their planning reforms.

“On paper, turning redundant office space into residential is a good idea for delivering a high number of units quickly, but the reality in a place like Bradford where land values are so low, is that it's not working. 

“Some of the units being created under the banner of Permitted Development are only scraping minimum space standards, and there are well-documented issues with waste disposal in places like Little Germany. 

“The other side of it is increasing uncertainty around residential extensions coming under Permitted Development rules, and tensions that are being noticed in Bradford's more suburban wards. It's no longer just the city centre that's struggling. 

“When it comes to planning reform, the devil will be in the detail, but the reality is that any reforms will need to look at delivering the kind of homes people actually want to live in – that will mean looking at green belt boundaries and delivering new infrastructure too."