Is “deregulation” of planning undermining healthy homes?

CIEH states that a balance must be struck between permitting greater flexibility to install low-carbon heating systems and managing the potential noise-impact

A government consultation on permitted development rights has resulted in a wide range of objections.

The eight-week consultation, which closed on 9th April, proposed changes to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. It included plans to enable householders to improve and enlarge their homes; changes that enable the upward extension of a range of existing buildings; and changes concerning the installation of air-source heat pumps.

The government said the proposals were designed to “streamline the development process, encourage the conversion of underutilised spaces into residential properties, and facilitate the construction of new homes”.

CIEH expressed ‘strong concerns’ relating to the proposed relaxation of planning requirements for the installation of air-source heat pumps, which include the removal of the limitation that an air source heat pump must be at least one metre from the property boundary.

Siobhan Silas, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Executive, CIEH said: “While there are potential benefits in terms of facilitating greater heat-pump deployment, it's vital that these proposals are accompanied by effective mechanisms to assess and control noise impacts.   

“An appropriate balance must be struck between permitting greater flexibility to homeowners to install low-carbon heating systems and managing the potential noise-impact consequences.”

Dr Isobel Braithwaite, Housing and Health Researcher at UCL said her main concern related to upward expansion of properties due to the “very harmful impacts” of this kind of extension she has seen in London.

“An example is Krissh House in Harrow, where this happened under the permitted development regime with no appropriate checks in place as to the building being structurally sound.

“It resulted in major leaks, extensive damp and mould, and associated health issues. This is particularly concerning in the context of extremely overstretched local environmental health teams.”

“Allowing further flexibilities for householder extensions will potentially increase the loss of private green space and have an impact on neighbours’ ‘rights of light’”

Dr Rosalie Callway, Policy and Project Manager at the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) argued that a “continued emphasis on deregulation” undermines local authorities’ attempts to promote healthy homes and communities and deliver effective regeneration.

She said this was “despite clear evidence that existing PDR rules are failing to ensure good quality homes and places that enable healthy outcomes for communities”.

“Allowing further flexibilities for householder extensions will potentially increase the loss of private green space and have an impact on neighbours’ ‘rights of light’”, she said. 

“Removing the age limit of buildings that can have floors added to them raises structural safety concerns; it also poses potential harms to cultural heritage and local character.

“In addition, removing the age restriction on buildings that can be demolished and rebuilt under PDR raises concerns about the location and standards applied. It reduces developer contributions to affordable housing and local amenities, and will incur the loss of embodied carbon from relatively new buildings.”

Andrew Towlerton, National Planning Advisor for the Society of Local Council Clerks, expressed “deep concern”.

He said: “We strongly oppose the government’s continued desire to extend permitted development rights further.

“Permitted development is associated with ad-hoc, poor-quality development that does not reflect local need nor is locally distinctive. It is critical that the impacts of proposals are fully assessed and considered, and that local communities, including town and parish councils, have a say about whether this type of development takes place.”