The number of PD conversions is growing all the time. Over 100,000 homes have been converted from offices in England in the last 10 years, but this number is likely to be an underestimate. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) estimate that 120,500 people are living in conversions with just one window (reducing air circulation) and 130,500 people are living in conversions that do not meet the minimum Nationally Described Space Standards.

It is possible to walk past many of these buildings and have no idea that they have been converted to homes at all. The Town and Country Planning Association commissioned a photography documentary, These are Homes, which highlights the conditions that people are experiencing in some PD conversions. Residents described these properties as ‘worse than prison cells’ and ‘human warehousing’. These are Homes aims to draw attention to the substandard housing that can be produced through PD, often affecting society’s most vulnerable individuals and families.

Not necessarily: done well, old buildings can be converted into good quality homes. Allowing empty office blocks to be converted into flats quickly, without having to apply for planning permission, sounds sensible, because of the shortage of homes. However, planning permission is a form of quality control – where very poor quality conversions wouldn't be allowed. Some developers have hastily converted offices and industrial buildings into flats to make a quick profit and the poor quality of the homes created has raised concerns about the potential risks to residents’ health and wellbeing. 

Many PD conversions, especially on the more affordable end, have been found to have no or limited access to natural light, to be poorly insulated and ventilated, to have poor security, and very cramped conditions. Such issues are known to impact our health and mental wellbeing, such as damp and mould from poor ventilation damaging our lungs and making respiratory problems worse. For larger conversions, local communities may not be prepared or properly resourced for the influx of new residents, since these conversions avoid the need for developers to make the usual contributions to community infrastructure. This can leave essential services such as schools and GP surgeries ill-equipped for the sudden increase in demand.