Epsom Council is taking action to block plans by the Government to allow office space to be turned into homes without planning permission, in a bid to protect the economic vitality of its town centre. 

Councillors are aiming to introduce measures to three office sites, in East Street, in Epsom town centre - which the council believes is a key employment area - after a change in planning law was introduced by the Government in May.

Under the change, developers no longer need to obtain planning permission from the council to change office space into residential use.

Notification of development is required to be submitted to the council, but consultation with residents is not necessary.

Epsom Council has made a direction to stop the change from applying to Adelphi Court, Crossways House and Bradford House, in East Street.

A council spokesman said the sites "were selected as they are seen as vital to maintaining the viability and vitality of Epsom town centre as an employment destination".

Crossways House and Bradford House have both been vacant for some time and Adelphi Court is partially occupied.

Councillor Michael Arthur, chairman of the council’s planning policy committee, said: "This proposal is designed to give the council control through the planning process to help protect certain existing offices that, although currently empty, are of specific importance to the borough’s economy moving forward.

“The fear is that if we lose these buildings to residential use now, then the attraction of Epsom as a location for business in the future is substantially diminished.

"We are between a rock and a hard place. 

"The borough needs more affordable housing however there is no guarantee that the conversions would be for affordable housing.

"We also need to maintain the economic vitality and viability of Epsom town centre as an employment destination."

Under the change, developers are also not bound by 's.106 agreements' - which require developers to make contributions towards the borough’s services and facilities, including transport, education and green spaces.

The council spokesman added: "The recent announcement of a head office of 400 people [for charity Nuffield Health] moving into Epsom office space later this year illustrates that there is a potential market for these empty buildings as office space.

"If the buildings were converted into residential use, that potential would be lost."

Lambeth Council and Islington Council have become the first two local authorities to launch a judicial review to protect their spaces against the controversial new planning law.

A spokesman for the Department for Local Communities and Local Government said: "The department introduced the office-to-residential change of use policy in order to bring under-used offices back into effective use and provide new homes, and we will vigorously defend any legal challenge to the policy."

People can give their views on Epsom Council’s direction until 4.30pm on October 3.  Email any representations to ldf@epsom-ewell.gov.uk or hand them to the planning police team at Epsom and Ewell town hall.

What do you think about the Government's change to planning law and Epsom Council's response? Contact Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on 020 8722 6346, email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk, or leave a comment below.

 

MORE EPSOM NEWS