Speculators in residential freeholds have today seen them leap in value as the government eases planning on existing blocks of flats … and torpedoes leaseholders trying to enfranchise.
From August 1 blocks of flats up to 30 metres in height can extend by two storeys without the need for planning consent.
The rule change to permitted development rights applies to all detached buildings of more than three storeys that were purpose-built between July 1 1948 and March 5 2018.
This will be a huge boost to the value of the portfolios of the Consensus Business Group (Tchenguiz), Long Harbour (William Waldorf Astor) and Wallace Estates (Prop: Count Luca Padulli) and all the assorted anonymous and offshore investors.
Curiously, LKP met the then housing minister Esther McVey in autumn last year where she said categorically that the easing of planning constraints on building extra storeys would be to the benefit of leaseholders only.
Ms McVey, who is the only housing minister to express some empathy for leaseholders, was adamant that the planning gain would not be to the enrichment of the existing freeholder. Especially the anonymous ones based offshore, who make up a good chunk of the private equity investors in the Long Harbour fund, for example.
Ms McVey was sacked soon afterwards.
The government announcement:
PM: Build, Build, Build
Boris Johnson has announced the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War, making it easier to build better homes where people want to live. New regulations will give greater freedom for buildings and land in our town centres to change use without planning permission and create new homes from the regeneration of vacant and redundant buildings.
Leaseholders will be the losers, however, as freeholds to these buildings will have leapt in value. Any attempt to enfranchise and purchase the freehold has just been made more expensive.
The hand-out to freehold speculators also undermines the work of the Law Commission to make leasehold enfranchisement “simpler and more cost effective”.
Whereas freeholders had to go to the trouble to concoct often spurious arguments to talk up the development potential of a site – and hence its value – now they just need to reference Mr Jenrick’s change of rules.
Government creates new PD right for two-storey upwards extensions | EG News
The government has created a new permitted development right to allow upwards extensions of two-storeys on a block of flats without the need for planning consent. Regulations will allow buildings of up to 30m, when it comes into force on 1 August.
Changes to permitted development rights allowing redundant offices to be converted to lucrative residential have created 100,000 new homes. But they have also been criticised as building “slums for the future”.
It is an open question whether this initiative is actually wise, given that the post-Covid 19 property market is likely to be very different to the past.
Making rich anonymous punters in residential freeholds even richer is also not a good look for the embattled housing secretary.
Even Estates Gazette, the Bible of property interests, referenced Mr Jenrick’s handling of the £1 billion Westferry Printworks planning approval. Mr Jenrick ignored recommendations from the planning inspector to refuse the scheme, helping media tycoon Richard Desmond to avoid £45 million in CIL owed to Tower Hamlets council.
The draft Bill can be seen here.
Related posts:
The Times reports criticisms of Jenrick’s two-storey planning windfall to what he called ‘egregious’ freeholders
Two-storey planning windfall means billions for freeholders, reports The Times
Freeholder Andrew Craige Curtis to use two-storey planning give-away at a north London cladding site while leaseholders ruined with remediation bills
Tory councillors and Labour MP back leaseholders in blocking ERE freeholds shoving up two more storeys under Jenrick’s planning give-away
Robert Jenrick: Why give freeholders such a whopping planning windfall over two new storeys rule, like this site in Newark?
United Nations criticises UK government’s approach to the cladding crisis
I am beginning to despair with this government. Jenrick & Co appear only willing to listen to developers and billionaire offshore investors when looking at building policies. Leaseholders’ voices are drowned out by the rustle of massive donations.
We cannot compete with that BUT we can make leasehold toxic to buyers through education and strengthening links with those MPs from all parties who actually get leasehold for what it is – a total scam.
And still those freeholders will not pay to make buildings with cladding safe?
How about unscrupulous freeholders who purchased residential freehold titles to blocks of flats without the knowledge of the majority qualifying long leaseholders in criminal breach of their right of first refusal (as amended by the Housing Act 1996).?
Will such freeholders be disqualified from taking advantage of the proposed legislation?
Adding a couple of levels to an existing building surely involves major remedial work to the entire building – e.g. new lifts!
Who will get charged for all this?
At which point does it become cheaper (or more practical) to knock down an old c. 1960s building and put up a new one?
This proposed legislation is in danger of legitimising fraud!
In May, Mr. Jenrick informed parliament that the government remained opposed to “rip off practices in the leasehold sector” and promised “draft legislation” – hopefully before the summer recess. Where is it?
Following the Select Committee report, and the CMA report, has the Law Commission submitted its final report?
This is important as one essential feature of new reform must be to allow disputes to be heard by the 1st Tier Tribunal -Property and not the Courts as at present (at disproportionate cost to leaseholders)
This article says blocks of more than 3 stories are affected, others say 3 stories and above. I live in a 3 storey block, and the freeholders have already tried and failed to get planning permission to extend upward. I need to know which it is.