![\"Builders](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/16C05\/production\/_130498139_housing_uk_getty.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMichael Gove is to relax planning rules in England in an effort to create more homes in “the hearts of our cities”.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The levelling up secretary says he wants to make it easier to convert empty retail premises and betting shops into flats and houses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But critics say such conversions are often poor quality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It comes as Rishi Sunak insists his party will meet its commitment to building a million homes before the next election, expected in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A report by the Commons housing committee earlier this month found that while ministers are on track to deliver its one million homes target they are not expected to meet their other commitment to deliver 300,000 new homes every year by the mid-2020s. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Hitting that figure became harder after the government was forced to water down its housing targets for local councils following a fierce backlash from its own MPs, many of them in rural constituencies. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The prime minister said his government would not be “concreting over the countryside” adding: “Our plan is to build the right homes where there is the most need and where there is local support, in the heart of Britain’s great cities.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Lisa Nandy, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, said: “It takes some serious brass neck for the Tories to make yet more promises when the housing crisis has gone from bad to worse on their watch.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n In a speech in central London, Mr Gove said the government would “unequivocally, unapologetically and intensively concentrating our biggest efforts in the hearts of our cities”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n He added he would be “using all of the levers that we have to promote urban regeneration rather than swallowing up virgin land”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As part of his plan to build more homes he said he wanted to make it easier to convert shops, takeaways and betting shops into homes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Some commercial properties can already be converted into homes without planning permission. Under laws known as “permitted development rights”, more than 10,000 properties – such as former offices – were turned into homes in 2021-2022.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Local Government Association has warned that offices, shops and barns are not always suitable for housing, and could result in the creation of poor quality homes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Brass neck’<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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‘Super squad’<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n