Norwich City Council can limit office to home conversions

Worried leaders at City Hall wanted to bring in changes to the planning process amid concerns Norwich has been losing too much business space to homes.   

Now the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communuties (DLUHC) has given the council the go-ahead to limit the numbers being converted. 

Under the current system, developers wanting to change offices into flats do not need formal planning permission.  

City Hall has been given a power called an ‘Article Four Direction’ to remove what is known as 'permitted development rights'. 

Norwich City Council fears the loss of office space is weakening the centre’s role as an economic hub, while some of the flats which are being created are not of good enough quality.   

Plans to make it more difficult for developers to change the use of offices were initially dealt a blow in June 2022, when DLUHC told the council the whole of the city centre is too big an area and it would not allow the directive the council sought.   

Mike Stonard (Image: Archant)

The council came back with a revised plan, targeting specific areas, streets and buildings. 

Councillor Mike Stonard, cabinet member for sustainable and inclusive growth, welcomed the move saying it helps protect important office space and ensures that when homes are converted they are of a high standard. 

At a meeting in late 2021, Karen Davis, the then cabinet member for social inclusion, said conversion in other parts of the country had led to "slum-like conditions".  

Karen Davis, Norwich City Council's Town Close ward councillor Picture: Ella Wilkinson (Image: Ella Wilkinson)

She said: “This is about protecting the office area, but also protecting people’s rights to good, secure accommodation.” 

The measure comes into force on Wednesday, February 22.  

A map showing which offices have been targeted can be viewed on the council’s website norwich.gov.uk/Article4Direction.