CHANGING the use of a property to reflect economic and demographic change has always been with us. One only has to look above the modern shop fronts in most town centres to see that some buildings were constructed for a different purpose. On the roads into our towns and city centres many a grand house subsequently became an office, a hotel or perhaps a care home. However over recent years the pressure for change has more likely been back to residential. Despite the inevitable economic cycles demographic changes have resulted in a steady improvement in the occupational demand for housing.
CHANGING the use of a property to reflect economic and demographic change has always been with us. One only has to look above the modern shop fronts in most town centres to see that some buildings were constructed for a different purpose. On the roads into our towns and city centres many a grand house subsequently became an office, a hotel or perhaps a care home. However over recent years the pressure for change has more likely been back to residential. Despite the inevitable economic cycles demographic changes have resulted in a steady improvement in the occupational demand for housing. This has resulted in a continued rise in residential sale values and now rents. For reasons that have been extensively debated market led construction cannot keep pace with demand. This trend is likely to continue and Northamptonshire has traditionally experienced improved demand from developers as prices in the capital ripple northwards aided by the county’s excellent road and rail networks. At Berrys we have advised property owners and developers on the opportunities created by these changes and have sold numerous important residential sites in the area. We have continued to provide planning and development advice on all types of sites and undertake viability appraisals for schemes small and large. The easing of planning regulations over recent years recognised the pressure for change, sought to encourage the provision of new housing and relaxed the need for formal planning applications for some extensions to existing dwellings. The temporary extension of Permitted Development Rights for change of use from offices to residential initially had a significant effect only in the areas of higher housing prices but are now a significant feature of the local market. With 1960’s and 70’s office buildings out of favour with commercial users, residential development is now the most likely option and Berrys are currently dealing with several substantial office and commercial buildings where the bulk of serious interest is from residential developers. This mirrors the situation experienced 10 or more years ago when multi-storey factories across the region were being converted for residential use. In both cases the result for the market was a loss of commercial floorspace. For retail property there has been pressure to convert upper floors to provide much needed town centre flats and Berrys have advised clients with national portfolios of retail property on the conversion of residential upper parts and have managed the planning and construction projects to completion resulting in much improved income streams at a time when there was downward pressure on shop rentals. The pressure for change of use in town centres is likely to continue if the trend for multiple retailers to migrate from town centres and the ever increasing proportion of shopping on line continues. Variation of uses in what were predominantly shopping streets is likely to continue. Berrys’ multi-disciplinary team will be pleased to provide advice on change of use whether commercial, residential or agricultural and if you require advice in these areas please contact either Simon Parsons or Stephen Edwards in the first instance on 01536 517777.
