The relationship between housing created through Permitted Development Rights and health: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Permitted Development Rights are a regulatory mechanism in the English planning system where the use of a building can be changed bypassing the standard planning process. Other countries have similar arrangements. In England, no assessment of the health impacts has been completed. This systematic review provides the first overview of the health and wellbeing impacts of housing created through Permitted Development Rights. 1,999 literature items were identified from a structured search of 14 databases and manual searching for grey literature. Literature published between January 2013 and July 2020, in England, were eligible. Eight academic and 13 grey literature items were included. The review identifies both a greater number of literature and greater number of ways permitted development conversions have negative compared to positive health impacts, and may contribute towards widening health inequalities. There is a lack of research directly with the occupants of housing created through Permitted Development Rights. These findings provide an indication of the impacts of deregulating a planning system without explicitly considering health and wellbeing. They warrant further assessment of how to enable the change of a buildings use to take place whilst also ensuring the homes created are supportive of good health.

KEYWORDS:

• Permitted development
• spatial planning
• change of use
• housing
• health
• wellbeing

This article is referred to by:

Research for city practice

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the representatives for their time and insights from the following organisations; Sheffield university, Reading university, University College London, Town and Country Planning Association, Royal Institute of British Architects, Shelter, Local Government Association and local authority representatives (from planning and public health backgrounds) at Bristol City Council, Plymouth City Council, and Crawley Council. The research is contributing to activities undertaking by Michael Chang with the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE). Thanks also to Aimee Stimpson for proof reading.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rachael Marsh

Rachael Marsh is a clinician, specialising in Public Health. She has experience working in acute NHS trusts, local governments, Public Health England and academic institutions. She has undertaken a wide range of service work and research projects in the field of healthy, equitable and sustainable environments.

Michael Chang

Michael Chang is a Chartered Town Planner and Honorary Member of the Faculty of Public Health, and has a specialist interest in healthy spatial planning.

Joanna Wood

Joanna Wood is the Knowledge and Evidence Specialist for Health Improvement at Public Health England. She qualified as a librarian in 2006, achieved Chartered status in 2008, and became a Fellow of CILIP: The Library and Information Association in 2019.