Four out of five high street properties are potentially able to be converted into homes without planning permission under new rules that came into force at the start of this week.

The new “class E” permitted development (PD) right applies to the vast majority of commercial properties in high streets and town centres, as well as light industrial units.

The rules, which have been welcomed by some developers but sharply criticised by architects, planners and other developers, have come into force at the same time as new regulations requiring fire risk of proposed high-rise buildings to be assessed at planning application stage.

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