Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader backs Parliamentarian’s call for Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) planning reform

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw ward representative councillor Howard Sykes MBE has backed calls for reform of ‘permitted development rights’ (PDRs) to close loopholes that make it easy for developers to convert commercial properties into high density HMO housing. 

Councillor Sykes said, “We’re already battling a HMO epidemic in Oldham.  What we need is high quality housing for future generations, but planning laws that make it easy for greedy developers to prioritise cheap, multiple occupancy developments are a major barrier.”

Councillor Sykes has joined Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Baroness Thornhill in calling for a review of Permitted Development Rights before the new legislation comes into effect.

“When planning laws are relaxed to allow developers to pack housing units into ex-commercial sites, the developer makes the big bucks, but the quality of housing is poor and its local people who suffer the consequences,” Sykes argued. 

“There is still time for the Government to get this right.”

Baroness Thornhill calls for review of Permitted Development Rights
Senior Lib Dem calls for permitted development rights review (themj.co.uk)