Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed new permitted development right to enable the change of use from the new Class E to residential on the effectiveness of the Future High Streets Fund and Heritage High Streets Fund.

The permitted development right for the change of use from the Commercial, Business and Service use class (E) to residential will support our ailing town centres and highstreets to become thriving, vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure time. The right provides for local consideration of the implications of a change of use of the ground floor on the sustainability and character of conservation areas.