There are concerns about the impact the legislation will have on business.
Lambeth Council is launching a legal challenge against government legislation which allows offices to be turned into flats.
Relaxed planning rules mean that landlords in Brixton and Streatham have the opportunity to turn offices into flats, which has led some to believe that key industrial areas could be under threat.
Judicial Review papers have been filed by the council on the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, calling for Brixton town centre, Streatham town centre and other business areas to be exempt from the new regulations.
“It’s simply unaccetable,” said Councillor Pete Robbins, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration.
“The new regulations could harm trade in these key areas and raise the prospect of job losses, lost business rates and reduced funding for infrastructure.”
The Judicial Review highlights Lambeth council’s concern that there was a lack of transparency around deciding which areas to exempt from this legislation.
Cllr Robbins said: “Based on the information provided, it is impossible to understand how the Government could have exempted residential areas in places such as Kensington and Chelsea, while ignoring the value to our local economy of Brixton and Streatham.”
The council is now waiting to hear back from the department’s solicitors.
Photo courtesy of włodi, with thanks.
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