The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has welcomed the government’s announcement that all office-to-residential conversions built under permitted development rights (PDR) will now have to meet minimum space standards.

PDRs make an important contribution to delivering housing, with more than 60,000 homes provided over the last four years. But developers have been criticised in recent weeks for abusing the fast-track system.

Most local authorities are particularly critical of PDRs because they argue the rights undermine the ability of local planning departments to ensure all housing is up to a decent standard.

The housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced last week that all new homes in England delivered through any PDR, enabling existing buildings to be converted into housing without the need to go through a full planning application, must meet new space standards.

The measures announced will mean that all new homes in England delivered through PDRs will in the future have to meet the Nationally Described Space Standard.

The space standard begins at 37sqm of floor space for a new one-bedroom flat with a shower room (39sqm with a bathroom) or 61sqm for a two-bedroom flat, ensuring proper living space for a single occupier.

Jenrick commented: “Permitted Development Rights are helping to deliver new homes and making an important contribution to our economic recovery from the pandemic, supporting our high streets by encouraging the regeneration of disused buildings and boosting our housing industry to safeguard the jobs of builders, plumbers and electricians.

“The pandemic has further highlighted the importance of having somewhere secure and comfortable to live. While most developers deliver good homes and do the right thing, I’m tackling the minority of developers abusing the system by announcing that new homes delivered will have to meet space standards.”

The professional body for architects has long campaigned that all housing delivered through permitted development should have to meet the National Described Space Standard.

RIBA president, Alan Jones, commented: “The government has done the right thing by closing this dangerous loophole and ensuring new Permitted Development housing across England will have adequate space and light – standards that should be a given.

“I look forward to engaging with the government over the coming weeks as they consult on wider planning reforms. We must use this opportunity to ensure all new housing is safe, sustainable and fit for future generations.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) has also welcomed the housing secretary’s announcement, but believes that it did not go far enough.

“We are pleased the secretary of state is bringing in this change, which is an improvement on the current permitted development rules,” said Cllr David Renard, the LGA’s housing spokesperson.

“However, fundamental concerns over their impact remain. An independent report commissioned by the government found permitted development conversions mostly avoid making any contribution to local areas, fail to meet adequate design standards and often create worse quality residential environments.

“It is vital that councils and local communities have a voice in the planning process and are able to oversee all local developments. This is the only way they can deliver resilient, prosperous places and ensure developers build high-quality affordable homes in the right places and with the right infrastructure.”