LISTEN: Croydon has seen the most office to residential conversion starts of any London borough, according to research by EGi.
Accounting for around 30% of the total starts in London over the year to May, the council has lost around 2m sq ft of commercial space, resulting in an Article 4 direction prohibiting further conversions in the town centre, made on 10 September.
Croydon council executive director – place, Jo Negrini (pictured) said the Article 4 was intended to encourage residential developers to talk to the council to ensure a good-quality housing that meets the London space standards, and that the town really needs.
Negrini said: “What we have lost through PD development is around 2m sq ft of commercial space, which is really problematic for us. Because the priority for the council and our partners is to really create a great place in the centre of Croydon, for that we need a balance of people who will live and work there.”
For an analysis of the full effects of permitted development rights, click here
To download a copy of the LRR report into permitted development rights click here.
