Architects have warned of the “disastrous unintended consequences” of a government proposal that would allow entire high streets and town centres to be converted into housing.

The “half-baked ideas” could do irreversible harm to the commercial hearts of towns and cities up and down the country, they said, and render local authorities and residents powerless to intervene in shaping their districts.

Former RIBA president Ben Derbyshire said the loss of local democratic control was unacceptable at a philosophical level – and questioned ministers’ claim that the proposal would breathe new life into cities. Instead he predicted that footfall would plummet with devastating results.

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