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The groups – including the Association of Convenience Stores, the British Independent Retailers Association, and the NFRN – have written a letter to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Robert Jenrick urging him to re-evaluate the proposal.
ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “High streets and other retail locations need to change, including more conversion of retail units into housing, but this absolutely has to be done on a planned basis. A free for all in conversions to residential use would make high streets incoherent and less compelling places to shop, socialise, live and work.”
NFRN national president, Stuart Reddish, added: “Putting ground floor housing in a random and uncontrolled manner within high streets does not draw footfall and does not support new businesses. It reduces the potential for business growth, will undermine the viability of existing retail on the high street and remove convenience stores from local neighbourhoods.
“This policy puts the premises of small businesses at risk of redevelopment, will impact the real diversification of the high street and could threaten the very existence of smaller independent retailers.”
A consultation on the proposed changes closed on 28 January and the new permitted developments regime is set to take effect on 1 August.
