Flexible Planning and Flexible Buildings: Reusing Redundant Office Space

:London entered the 1990s with the combination of an unprecedented oversupply of office space and severe shortages of affordable housing. As part of its approach to increase the supply of affordable housing, central government suggested that local authorities encourage converting empty office buildings into housing. This also was seen as a way to reduce commuting and thereby to meet targets of environmental “sustainability”. However, the research reported here shows that conversion is unlikely to become a major source of housing supply unless planning policies become more flexible, office buildings are of the appropriate type, and building owners are prepared to accept the scale of their financial losses. In the long run, a more flexible approach to building design and construction is necessary to ensure that buildings can be converted easily when demands arise for new uses.