In 2013, the government launched the temporary PDR (property development rights) legislation, which allowed increased change of use and size limits for the depth of single-storey domestic extensions.

The government announced an extension to the legislation, which has been welcomed by more than two-thirds (69%) of property developers.

Keith Aldridge, founder and managing director at Amicus, said it welcomed the extension to the PDR legislation.

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“We have assisted many developers in capitalising on the relaxed planning laws and believe it has played a key role in reinvigorating this part of the market, creating significant opportunity for specialist lenders like Amicus.

“There is clearly a long way to go, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction in addressing the UK’s housing shortage.”

The study also found that nearly a third (30%) of developers expects to see a significant growth in PDR-related conversion schemes.

Between July 2015 and June 2016, 1,066 office-to-residential permitted development applications were permitted without prior approval and a further 1,480 applications were granted with prior approval.