A new report has warned the government that extending its controversial policy of allowing office-to-residential conversions without the need for full planning permission could result in a higher amount of low-quality housing.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said that despite housing delivery being high on politicians’ agenda the implications of extending the policy of allowing conversions through the use of permitted-development rights needed to be looked at carefully.

Its report, co-authored with academics from UCL and Sheffield University, RICS said relaxations of the rules which began under the coalition government had resulted in a higher level of poor quality housing than was the case when full planning permission was required.