Converting Shop and Office Buildings into Affordable Homes

This bill makes it easier to turn empty shops, offices and other commercial buildings into affordable homes. Local councils would get new powers to identify suitable commercial properties and approve their conversion to housing. The government says this will help tackle the housing shortage by using empty buildings instead of building on green land. Property developers would need to meet specific standards for affordable housing when converting buildings. The bill also sets rules about which types of commercial buildings can be converted and requires developers to provide a certain percentage of affordable homes in each conversion project.

• 1Allows conversion of empty shops and offices into affordable homes
• 2Gives local councils new powers to identify and approve suitable buildings for conversion
• 3Sets standards that developers must meet when creating affordable housing
• 4Aims to use existing empty buildings rather than building on undeveloped land
• 5Requires a minimum percentage of affordable homes in each conversion project