The government has rejected pleas from an influential committee of MPs to pause the roll-out of further permitted development rights to convert properties into housing, which campaigners say have seen the creation of thousands of sub-standard homes.

In 2021 the cross-party Levelling Up, Housing and Communities select committee had called on the government to “pause any further extensions of permitted development rights for change of use to residential”, including by halting the move to allow all commercial premises to convert to homes – which was subsequently introduced.

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