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Government unveils North East offices plan

A scheme to turn empty office blocks into homes could reportedly benefit the North East according to government statistics.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles announced a plan to outline the government’s strategy to use dormant offices to boost the housing supply in the region and throughout the UK.

The change of use plans, outlined in the Budget in March, will enable developers to convert buildings for residential use without the need for planning permission.

Mr Pickles has also published a consultation on the removal of planning permission, as well as a wider review of the change of use rules.

The government estimates if all the long-term office space in England was converted it could deliver 250,000 new homes and save just under £140million over ten years by cutting red tape.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .