| A worrying new law means offices can be turned into residential buildings without planning permission. Artists' studios and creative start-ups will be the first to go. Last week Eric Pickles finally rubber-stamped a plan that has long been mooted as an obvious salve to the housing crisis. We have acres of empty offices, a blight of vacant blocks in our cities – so why not turn them into homes?
With office vacancy rates as high as 20% in some regions (a result of oversupply and changing requirements in the downturn) while the urgent demand for housing continues to rise, it seems the perfect solution...............................................Full Article: Source
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