Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to allow local planning authorities to mandate minimum standards on green or outside space when considering retail or office conversions into residential buildings through permitted development rights.

The new Class MA permitted development right for the change of use from commercial, business and service uses, including retail and office premises, came into effect from 1 August 2021. The right will bring vacant commercial buildings into productive use. There are no current plans to introduce a requirement for outside space.