Richmond Council have slammed the government's latest fast-track rules for the approval of new developments in the UK.

In a strongly-worded statement published Tuesday (February 2), the council said Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick's plans for the 'permitted development right (PDR)' would overhaul the scrutiny of residents and local authorities on new developments.

PDR would, according to the Council, allow buildings currently in commercial or business use to be converted to residential use "without a formal planning application".

"Developers could be permitted to convert shops, bars and restaurants into homes, without consulting with the local council or the local community," a council spokesperson continued.

"Without oversight the Council will be unable to ensure that social infrastructure and support services are sufficient to support an increase in people living in an area, or to ensure that any new housing does not negatively impact the local area or existing communities."

Cllr Julia Neden-Watts added:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of essential local facilities that are key to supporting sustainable communities.

"These permitted development right proposals would occur at the worst possible time, clashing with the economic and social recovery process and undermining the adaptation of our centres to become diverse, vibrant and successful locations once again.

"The effect on our high streets if shops and services gave way to higher value residential use would be devastating.

"Delivery of housing must not be at the expense of social infrastructure, particularly facilities that provide for young children or help residents lead active and healthy lifestyles."

Jenrick and the government have previously defended the proposals as a way to "streamline (the) process, cut red tape and harness technology to deliver homes faster."

However, critics of Jenrick’s plans warned they would cut vital regulations on housing by granting “automatic permission” for new developments in certain areas to be designated by the government.

"Deregulation is not the way to bring about new homes," Alan Jones, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said last year, describing the proposals as "disgraceful".

Mary Parson, chair of the Town and Country Planning Association, meanwhile said the reforms could lead to “creating what will become the slums of the future...” while the Labour Party warned they would “set fire to important safeguards”.

Research published by UCL academics last year suggested PDR developments tended to lead to worse quality housing.

"New housing created through permitted development rights in England since 2013 is more likely to be characterised by worse quality residential environments than housing created under the full planning permission process in relation to a number of factors vital to the health, wellbeing and quality of life of future occupiers," a summary of the report read.