The relationship between housing created through Permitted Development Rights and health: a systematic review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Permitted Development Rights are a regulatory mechanism in the English planning system where the use of a building can be changed bypassing the standard planning process. Other countries have similar arrangements. In England, no assessment of the health impacts has been completed. This systematic review provides the first overview of the health and wellbeing impacts of housing created through Permitted Development Rights. 1,999 literature items were identified from a structured search of 14 databases and manual searching for grey literature. Literature published between January 2013 and July 2020, in England, were eligible. Eight academic and 13 grey literature items were included. The review identifies both a greater number of literature and greater number of ways permitted development conversions have negative compared to positive health impacts, and may contribute towards widening health inequalities. There is a lack of research directly with the occupants of housing created through Permitted Development Rights. These findings provide an indication of the impacts of deregulating a planning system without explicitly considering health and wellbeing. They warrant further assessment of how to enable the change of a buildings use to take place whilst also ensuring the homes created are supportive of good health.