Sutton Council is seeking a judicial review against the Government as it continues to oppose plans to allow offices in the town centre to be converted into homes.

The council is among 30 out of 32 London boroughs which asked for exemptions from plans to allow offices to be converted to residential use.

Sutton Council asked for an exemption for Sutton town centre, arguing that conversions to homes would lead to lack of office space, would make it harder to attract new investors, and there would be fewer workers to spend money in retail and leisure outlets.

The Government assessed the councils’ exemption requests, but Sutton town centre was rejected along with Wimbledon, Kingston and Richmond town centres.

The council is now seeking a judicial review against the process, rather than the actual permitted development rights, as it does not believe the Government’s consultation has a mandate.

In its original consultation, on the 'office-to-homes issue', 69 per cent of the respondents said they did not agree with the government plans.

Councillors now have until the end of the month to decide how to move forward.