The latest data from Searchland, the development site sourcing specialists, shows that there are nearly 28,000 sites across England that are primed to be converted from commercial use to residential property, with an estimated value of over £1.5billion.
The platform compiled a list of the number of buildings that are Class MA, meaning they have permitted development rights to be converted into residential property, which would help alleviate the country’s lack of housing supply.
Last month, housing secretary, Michael Gove, targeted making it easier to turn commercial premises like shops and restaurants into residential accommodation as part of his plan to address the housing shortage, focusing on more homes in towns and cities and preserving the countryside.
Gove to set out plans to ‘unblock the planning system’ with more development in cities
The data shows that London has roughly a third of all England’s sites, numbering 8,985, with an estimated market value in the region of £928million.
The capital is followed by the South East and East of England, at 5,729 and 2,848 respectively, with these sites worth £385.4million and £186million.
The North East has the fewest sites with the potential for conversion, at just 840, while developers also have fewer options across Yorkshire and the Humber, with 1,342 sites, as well as the East Midlands, at 1,387. These three regions only have 12.8% of England’s sites between them.
While London is home to the most properties with the required permissions, space is at a premium in the capital, with typical commercial premises having 157.0 sq. ft. of space, compared to the English average of 170.3 sq. ft.
While Yorkshire and the Humber has a relatively low number of properties that can be converted, accounting for 4.8% of all stock, there’s more space in the region than any other, as commercial buildings with the required permissions average 186.3 sq. ft.
This means there’s potential to either turn them into larger residential properties, or a greater number of apartments per conversion.
Co-founder and CEO of Searchland, Mitchell Fasanya, commented: “Disused commercial sites are a cornerstone of the government’s approach to solving the UK’s housing problems, if the rhetoric from Michael Gove is anything to go by.”
“Our data demonstrates that developers already have the opportunity to turn thousands of commercial properties into residential developments and these sites currently hold significant value in the current market.”
“If you’re a developer looking for a site, availability is best in London and the South East, but if you want to buy a big commercial site Yorkshire and the Humber is the place to be.”
“Following Gove’s comments, we’ll be monitoring government activity as there could be more choice in regions like the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as the East of England.”
