THE door could be open for more offices in York to be converted into the homes after a government announcement yesterday.

The Prime Minister yesterday announced that a temporary rule introduced in May 2013 - allowing builders to convert disused offices into homes without applying for planning permission - will be made permanent.

The move has been welcomed by York Outer MP Julian Sturdy and developer the Helmsley Group's John Reeves.

Mr Reeves said: "This is exactly what York and other parts of the UK need to keep the supply of housing coming. We have, as everyone knows, a crisis in the supply of housing in all sectors and the long term solution is to increase supply. This will get rid of the uncertainty and help to enhance supply still further which has to be good news. Now all we need is the ability of those first time buyers to get a mortgage they can live with and afford. A win for everyone in the end."

A number of office to residential conversions are already under way in York, including a Halo development on Clifton Moor where the Helmsley Group is converting old and empty office space into market housing aimed at first time buyers.

The permitted development rule on office to residential conversions had been due to lapse in May 2016, but after talks with Mr Reeves the York Outer MP wrote twice to Planning and Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis MP, calling for the arrangement to be renewed.

The MP is also a strong supporter of the Clifton Moor development, which he has called an "innovative solution" that will help York to meet more of its housing requirements on vacant or under-utilised land, relieving some of the pressure on the communities surrounding the city.

Mr Sturdy said: "It is important that those areas that are concerned about the future provision of office space should continue to be able to apply to opt out of these rules and it must reflect the diverse regional and local situations. However, I am absolutely delighted that the Government has decided to make these permitted development rules permanent. It is clear from visiting the Halo development that these reforms could be hugely beneficial to the City of York in helping to meet more of our housing requirements on brownfield land."

Yesterday's announcement also saw David Cameron reinforce the 2017 deadline given to local councils to draw up their Local Plans, before the Government take over the process for them.