A further one million sq ft of underused office space has the potential to create ‘much needed’ residential accommodation in Liverpool, according to a city agent.

The government’s housing and planning minister, Brandon Lewis announced yesterday (Tuesday 13 October) that temporary measures making it easier to convert old office buildings into new homes will now be made permanent.

The measures, known as permitted development rights (PDR), were first introduced in 2013 to allow commercial sites which are no longer fit for purpose to become residential properties without the need for planning permission. They were initially set to expire in May 2016.

Making the announcement, the minister said: “Today’s measures will mean we can tap into the potential of underused buildings to offer new homes for first-time buyers and families long into the future, breathing new life into neighbourhoods and at the same time protecting our precious green belt.”

Alan Bevan, managing director of City Residential, says that the permanent extension to PDR is “great news for Liverpool which has suffered from an excess of office stock that is no longer fit for purpose”.

He adds: “Whilst some of this redundant stock is already being converted to residential, we believe there is probably another million sq ft of space that is suitable for conversion.

“In addition to providing much needed quality residential accommodation it may also release some of the office stock ‘overhang’ which will hopefully encourage developers to deliver some new Grade A office stock for the future.”

Fellow Liverpool agent Dan Pennington, director of Century 21 in the city, also welcomed the announcement, highlighting that unused office premises “can be converted fairly quickly in terms of renovation and this in turn provides affordable central apartments and studios ideal for post grads and young professionals working in the city”.

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