PLANNING rules need to change to stop slum properties being built, according to members of Castle Point Council.

Permitted developments allow offices and warehouses to be converted into homes without planning permission to help those in need of housing.

However critics claim this has led to slums being built and pressure on services growing.

There have been four permitted developments in Castle Point.

Canvey Island Independent Party leader Dave Blackwell said: “I have been on planning at Castle Point for 20 years and since the Government changed the planning system and bought in permitted development it has caused a huge amount of problems.

“Locally, developers are think they can get away with not having planning permission so there needs to be a changes in planning law.”

Tory council leader Norman Smith added: “In terms of big ex-industrial office blocks, we don’t have that situation but what we do have is some shops that have been left empty for a while and perhaps they could become residential, which helps keep people in the town centres and supporting the towns.

“However, I’m not wholly supportive of massive conversions of huge great office blocks as it doesn’t give the right facilities for people to live in, in terms of garden space and spaces for children to play.

“There is room to look at this policy.”

Shadow Housing Secretary MP John Healey said: “Conservative permitted development rules have created a get-out clause for developers to dodge affordable homes requirements and build slum housing.

“To fix the housing crisis, we need more genuinely affordable, high-quality homes.”

But Conservative Party vice-chairman for local government, Marcus Jones MP, responded: “Labour’s plans would cut housebuilding and put a stop to people achieving home ownership.

“We are backing permitted development rights which are converting dormant offices into places families can call home.” However school teachers and senior police officers in Essex have claimed this causes problems.