HC Deb 11 May 1965 vol 712 cc35-6W
51. Mrs. Jeger

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware of the continuing use in London of many houses for office purposes; and whether, in view of the plentiful supply of purpose-built office accommodation, he will seek powers to provide that suitable houses revert to domestic use as they become vacant.

Mr. Mellish

Where such uses have only temporary planning permission—as is quite common—my right hon. Friend is sure the local authorities will be very much alive to the need to bring back into residential use, when the permissions expire, any houses which are still suitable for living. But to extinguish a continuing right to use a house as an office would involve compensation, and he doubts if the cost would be justified. Many of the houses in question would need further expenditure before they could be suitable for modern living.