In response to earlier posts, adopting a conservation area takes months/years due to the studies required. Whereas changes to the permitted development order could be made anytime after the consultation ends i.e. potentially by Christmas. So I wouldn't be complacent in that regard.

Ministers are telling the media that this is to put empty properties back to use. The same spin was used when government made it permitted to go from offices to resi earlier this year. Three months later there are cases where tenants will be evicted from their offices. So much for 1 Localism 2 Supporting local businesses.

We do need more affordable homes but not supplied in such an arbitrary way.