Planning Permission Exemptions

Many businesses no longer need certain types of commercial properties, leaving them vacant. Converting these buildings into homes is a major opportunity to tackle vacancy.

To make this easier:

• Since 2018, planning laws allow some vacant commercial premises to be turned into homes without planning permission.
• These exemptions were expanded in 2022.
• By May 2025, councils had received 1,457 notifications for projects creating 3,429 new homes nationwide.

The Government plans to increase the types of projects that don’t need planning permission, such as:

• Attic conversions.
• Detached accommodation within a property boundary.
• Splitting houses into separate living spaces, helping older adults stay in familiar surroundings.

These changes will speed up small projects and free up council resources.