Houses in Multiple Occupation

Email from President to CLG's Chief Planner:

Dear Steve

Thank you for your letter of 27 January confirming the Government's intention to amend planning legislation in relation to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

I welcome John Healey's announcement that has been decided to amend the Use Classes Order to introduce a specific definition of a HMO so that a material change of use from a C3 dwelling house to a new HMO use class would require planning permission. I also welcome the intention to amend the GPDO so that a change back from a HMO to C3 would not require planning permission.

I note that the Government's intention is to bring forward the necessary secondary legislation in time for it to come in force on 6 April 2010 and that further guidance will be issued to LPAs at that time. I am concerned that there appears to be no intention to consult on the secondary legislation or the associated guidance. This is regrettable and I urge you to give the opportunity for at least "stakeholder" input - the Planning Officers Society for example would be very happy to give a practitioner view.

I draw your attention to the joint letter from the Director General of the Federation of Master Builders and myself last year concerning problems of interpretation in the current GPDO, as an indication of the sort of problems that I am seeking to avoid through practitioner input.

Best wishes

David 

David Hackforth, President, Planning Officers Society

T: 01908 252250; M: 07713 288390; E: President@planningofficers.org.uk; W: www.planningofficers.org.uk

To read John Healey's statement in the HoC go to http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100127/wmstext/100127m0001.htm