Office-to-residential conversion with planning enhancement
This project involved the comprehensive redevelopment of an existing brick office building through a hybrid planning strategy, combining Permitted Development (Class MA) with a full planning application. The approach enabled the efficient conversion of the existing building to residential use under PD, while securing full planning permission for an additional storey and significant improvements to the building’s external appearance.
The Permitted Development element facilitated the change of use from offices to residential accommodation, delivering a series of 27 well-proportioned one- and two-bedroom apartments arranged across the existing floorplates. Careful attention was paid to internal layouts, daylight provision, and unit standards to ensure high-quality living environments while maximising the potential of the retained structure.
Alongside this, a full planning application was pursued to introduce a new upper storey and to rework the building’s façade. These interventions were key to elevating the architectural quality of the scheme, softening the original Brutalist expression, and providing a more refined and contemporary residential identity. The façade strategy introduced improved proportions, material variation, and articulation, significantly enhancing the building’s relationship with its surroundings.
The hybrid approach allowed the scheme to unlock additional value while maintaining planning certainty, balancing flexibility with design quality. The result is a well-resolved residential development that demonstrates how Permitted Development can be successfully combined with full planning to deliver meaningful architectural enhancement, increased housing delivery, and long-term regeneration of underutilised commercial buildings.
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