“London Councils has raised fears that the rules which mean developers can turn office space into new homes without planning permission could put economic centres at serious risk. Local authorities in central London, including Westminster, Camden, the City and Southwark, have secured opt-outs for parts of their areas but are concerned that the Government may create a “planning free-for-all” by removing the exemptions next year. England lost more than 6m sq ft of office space last year, according to the research, by CBRE for the British Council for Offices.”