18 March 2011
Last updated at 20:00 ET
By Joe Lynam
Business correspondent, BBC News
The Government is set to announce measures in the Budget to make it easier for companies in England to convert commercial property into private dwellings.
The BBC has learned that soon planning permission would no longer be required by developers.
The government says this should result in up to 250,000 additional houses or flats being created.
The plan would require changes to existing legislation.
The new rules could be in place before the end of the year.
They would not apply to shops.
Vacant properties
Government sources said the changes, which are expected to be announced next Wednesday, could save £140m in red tape over 10 years.
The plan has been welcomed by the British Property Federation.
Last year, some 129,000 new housing units were built in England.
That is the lowest peacetime figure since 1923.
Almost 10% of commercial properties currently lie vacant.
Excerpt from:
Property planning rules to soften