A coalition of nearly 30 groups representing high street shops, property developers and planners have written to housing secretary Robert Jenrick urging him to abandon plans for an “uncontrolled” expansion of residential conversions.

Signatories to the letter, which include the British Property Federation, the Association of Town and City Management, the British Independent Retailers Association, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the RICS, said the planned introduction of a blanket permitted development right to convert high streets to homes would create a “vicious circle” threatening the long-term health of town centres.

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