diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_paint.h b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_paint.h
index 66bf8bb3ac7..a054b433f48 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_paint.h
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_paint.h
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "BLI_compiler_compat.h"
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 #  include "BLI_array.hh"
+#  include "BLI_math_vector_types.hh"
 #  include "BLI_offset_indices.hh"
 #endif
 #include "BLI_utildefines.h"
@@ -594,7 +595,7 @@ typedef struct SculptSession {
   struct Depsgraph *depsgraph;
 
   /* These are always assigned to base mesh data when using PBVH_FACES and PBVH_GRIDS. */
-  float (*vert_positions)[3];
+  blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> vert_positions;
   blender::OffsetIndices<int> polys;
   blender::Span<int> corner_verts;
 
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_pbvh_api.hh b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_pbvh_api.hh
index f0dd5f42f51..ee2c9005b55 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_pbvh_api.hh
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/BKE_pbvh_api.hh
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "BLI_bitmap.h"
 #include "BLI_compiler_compat.h"
 #include "BLI_ghash.h"
+#include "BLI_math_vector_types.hh"
 #include "BLI_offset_indices.hh"
 #include "BLI_vector.hh"
 
@@ -498,8 +499,8 @@ struct PBVHVertexIter {
   int gridsize;
 
   /* mesh */
-  float (*vert_positions)[3];
-  float (*vert_normals)[3];
+  blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> vert_positions;
+  blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> vert_normals;
   const bool *hide_vert;
   int totvert;
   const int *vert_indices;
@@ -558,7 +559,7 @@ void pbvh_vertex_iter_init(PBVH *pbvh, PBVHNode *node, PBVHVertexIter *vi, int m
             } \
           } \
         } \
-        else if (vi.vert_positions) { \
+        else if (!vi.vert_positions.is_empty()) { \
           vi.visible = !(vi.hide_vert && vi.hide_vert[vi.vert_indices[vi.gx]]); \
           if (mode == PBVH_ITER_UNIQUE && !vi.visible) { \
             continue; \
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/paint.cc b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/paint.cc
index ff2cb1b2603..1e96e3b7d62 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/paint.cc
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/paint.cc
@@ -1737,7 +1737,7 @@ static void sculpt_update_object(
 
     /* These are assigned to the base mesh in Multires. This is needed because Face Sets operators
      * and tools use the Face Sets data from the base mesh when Multires is active. */
-    ss->vert_positions = BKE_mesh_vert_positions_for_write(me);
+    ss->vert_positions = me->vert_positions_for_write();
     ss->polys = me->polys();
     ss->corner_verts = me->corner_verts();
   }
@@ -1745,7 +1745,7 @@ static void sculpt_update_object(
     ss->totvert = me->totvert;
     ss->totpoly = me->totpoly;
     ss->totfaces = me->totpoly;
-    ss->vert_positions = BKE_mesh_vert_positions_for_write(me);
+    ss->vert_positions = me->vert_positions_for_write();
     ss->polys = me->polys();
     ss->corner_verts = me->corner_verts();
     ss->multires.active = false;
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh.cc b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh.cc
index 20aadc48607..11a8d7a9246 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh.cc
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh.cc
@@ -699,7 +699,6 @@ static void pbvh_draw_args_init(PBVH *pbvh, PBVH_GPU_Args *args, PBVHNode *node)
   memset((void *)args, 0, sizeof(*args));
 
   args->pbvh_type = pbvh->header.type;
-  args->mesh_verts_num = pbvh->totvert;
   args->mesh_grids_num = pbvh->totgrid;
   args->node = node;
 
@@ -857,7 +856,7 @@ void BKE_pbvh_update_mesh_pointers(PBVH *pbvh, Mesh *mesh)
   if (!pbvh->deformed) {
     /* Deformed positions not matching the original mesh are owned directly by the PBVH, and are
      * set separately by #BKE_pbvh_vert_coords_apply. */
-    pbvh->vert_positions = BKE_mesh_vert_positions_for_write(mesh);
+    pbvh->vert_positions = mesh->vert_positions_for_write();
   }
 
   pbvh->hide_poly = static_cast<bool *>(CustomData_get_layer_named_for_write(
@@ -869,7 +868,7 @@ void BKE_pbvh_update_mesh_pointers(PBVH *pbvh, Mesh *mesh)
   mesh->vert_normals();
   mesh->poly_normals();
 
-  pbvh->vert_normals = BKE_mesh_vert_normals_for_write(mesh);
+  pbvh->vert_normals = mesh->runtime->vert_normals;
   pbvh->poly_normals = mesh->runtime->poly_normals;
 
   pbvh->vdata = &mesh->vdata;
@@ -1095,14 +1094,6 @@ void BKE_pbvh_free(PBVH *pbvh)
     }
   }
 
-  if (pbvh->deformed) {
-    if (pbvh->vert_positions) {
-      /* if pbvh was deformed, new memory was allocated for verts/faces -- free it */
-
-      MEM_freeN((void *)pbvh->vert_positions);
-    }
-  }
-
   if (pbvh->looptri) {
     MEM_freeN((void *)pbvh->looptri);
   }
@@ -1119,7 +1110,7 @@ void BKE_pbvh_free(PBVH *pbvh)
 
   pbvh_pixels_free(pbvh);
 
-  MEM_freeN(pbvh);
+  MEM_delete(pbvh);
 }
 
 static void pbvh_iter_begin(PBVHIter *iter,
@@ -1387,8 +1378,7 @@ static void pbvh_faces_update_normals(PBVH *pbvh, Span<PBVHNode *> nodes)
 {
   using namespace blender;
   using namespace blender::bke;
-  const Span<float3> positions(reinterpret_cast<const float3 *>(pbvh->vert_positions),
-                               pbvh->totvert);
+  const Span<float3> positions = pbvh->vert_positions;
   const OffsetIndices polys = pbvh->polys;
   const Span<int> corner_verts(pbvh->corner_verts, pbvh->mesh->totloop);
 
@@ -1407,7 +1397,7 @@ static void pbvh_faces_update_normals(PBVH *pbvh, Span<PBVHNode *> nodes)
     return;
   }
 
-  MutableSpan<float3> vert_normals(reinterpret_cast<float3 *>(pbvh->vert_normals), pbvh->totvert);
+  MutableSpan<float3> vert_normals = pbvh->vert_normals;
   MutableSpan<float3> poly_normals = pbvh->poly_normals;
 
   VectorSet<int> verts_to_update;
@@ -2470,7 +2460,7 @@ static bool pbvh_faces_node_raycast(PBVH *pbvh,
                                     int *r_active_face_index,
                                     float *r_face_normal)
 {
-  const float(*positions)[3] = pbvh->vert_positions;
+  const Span<float3> positions = pbvh->vert_positions;
   const int *corner_verts = pbvh->corner_verts;
   const int *looptris = node->prim_indices;
   int looptris_num = node->totprim;
@@ -2819,7 +2809,7 @@ static bool pbvh_faces_node_nearest_to_ray(PBVH *pbvh,
                                            float *depth,
                                            float *dist_sq)
 {
-  const float(*positions)[3] = pbvh->vert_positions;
+  const Span<float3> positions = pbvh->vert_positions;
   const int *corner_verts = pbvh->corner_verts;
   const int *looptris = node->prim_indices;
   int i, looptris_num = node->totprim;
@@ -3182,10 +3172,10 @@ float (*BKE_pbvh_vert_coords_alloc(PBVH *pbvh))[3]
 {
   float(*vertCos)[3] = nullptr;
 
-  if (pbvh->vert_positions) {
+  if (!pbvh->vert_positions.is_empty()) {
     vertCos = static_cast<float(*)[3]>(
         MEM_malloc_arrayN(pbvh->totvert, sizeof(float[3]), __func__));
-    memcpy(vertCos, pbvh->vert_positions, sizeof(float[3]) * pbvh->totvert);
+    memcpy(vertCos, pbvh->vert_positions.data(), sizeof(float[3]) * pbvh->totvert);
   }
 
   return vertCos;
@@ -3199,12 +3189,13 @@ void BKE_pbvh_vert_coords_apply(PBVH *pbvh, const float (*vertCos)[3], const int
   }
 
   if (!pbvh->deformed) {
-    if (pbvh->vert_positions) {
+    if (!pbvh->vert_positions.is_empty()) {
       /* if pbvh is not already deformed, verts/faces points to the */
       /* original data and applying new coords to this arrays would lead to */
       /* unneeded deformation -- duplicate verts/faces to avoid this */
+      pbvh->vert_positions_deformed = blender::Array<float3>(pbvh->vert_positions.as_span());
+      pbvh->vert_positions = pbvh->vert_positions_deformed;
 
-      pbvh->vert_positions = static_cast<float(*)[3]>(MEM_dupallocN(pbvh->vert_positions));
       /* No need to dupalloc pbvh->looptri, this one is 'totally owned' by pbvh,
        * it's never some mesh data. */
 
@@ -3212,8 +3203,8 @@ void BKE_pbvh_vert_coords_apply(PBVH *pbvh, const float (*vertCos)[3], const int
     }
   }
 
-  if (pbvh->vert_positions) {
-    float(*positions)[3] = pbvh->vert_positions;
+  if (!pbvh->vert_positions.is_empty()) {
+    MutableSpan<float3> positions = pbvh->vert_positions;
     /* copy new verts coords */
     for (int a = 0; a < pbvh->totvert; a++) {
       /* no need for float comparison here (memory is exactly equal or not) */
@@ -3301,7 +3292,7 @@ void pbvh_vertex_iter_init(PBVH *pbvh, PBVHNode *node, PBVHVertexIter *vi, int m
   vi->grid = nullptr;
   vi->no = nullptr;
   vi->fno = nullptr;
-  vi->vert_positions = nullptr;
+  vi->vert_positions = {};
   vi->vertex.i = 0LL;
 
   BKE_pbvh_node_get_grids(pbvh, node, &grid_indices, &totgrid, nullptr, &gridsize, &grids);
@@ -3322,7 +3313,7 @@ void pbvh_vertex_iter_init(PBVH *pbvh, PBVHNode *node, PBVHVertexIter *vi, int m
   }
   vi->vert_indices = vert_indices;
   vi->vert_positions = pbvh->vert_positions;
-  vi->is_mesh = pbvh->vert_positions != nullptr;
+  vi->is_mesh = !pbvh->vert_positions.is_empty();
 
   if (pbvh->header.type == PBVH_BMESH) {
     BLI_gsetIterator_init(&vi->bm_unique_verts, node->bm_unique_verts);
@@ -3402,13 +3393,13 @@ void BKE_pbvh_parallel_range_settings(TaskParallelSettings *settings,
 float (*BKE_pbvh_get_vert_positions(const PBVH *pbvh))[3]
 {
   BLI_assert(pbvh->header.type == PBVH_FACES);
-  return pbvh->vert_positions;
+  return reinterpret_cast<float(*)[3]>(pbvh->vert_positions.data());
 }
 
 const float (*BKE_pbvh_get_vert_normals(const PBVH *pbvh))[3]
 {
   BLI_assert(pbvh->header.type == PBVH_FACES);
-  return pbvh->vert_normals;
+  return reinterpret_cast<const float(*)[3]>(pbvh->vert_normals.data());
 }
 
 const bool *BKE_pbvh_get_vert_hide(const PBVH *pbvh)
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_intern.hh b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_intern.hh
index c2c617e76fd..9bb39b1a2f3 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_intern.hh
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_intern.hh
@@ -157,10 +157,12 @@ struct PBVH {
   Mesh *mesh;
 
   /* NOTE: Normals are not `const` because they can be updated for drawing by sculpt code. */
-  float (*vert_normals)[3];
+  blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> vert_normals;
   blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> poly_normals;
   bool *hide_vert;
-  float (*vert_positions)[3];
+  blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> vert_positions;
+  /** Local vertex positions owned by the PVBH when not sculpting base mesh positions directly. */
+  blender::Array<blender::float3> vert_positions_deformed;
   blender::OffsetIndices<int> polys;
   bool *hide_poly;
   /** Only valid for polygon meshes. */
diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_pixels.cc b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_pixels.cc
index 31d33c36e77..ca32812a955 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_pixels.cc
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/pbvh_pixels.cc
@@ -670,11 +670,10 @@ static bool update_pixels(PBVH *pbvh, Mesh *mesh, Image *image, ImageUser *image
   const AttributeAccessor attributes = mesh->attributes();
   const VArraySpan uv_map = *attributes.lookup<float2>(active_uv_name, ATTR_DOMAIN_CORNER);
 
-  uv_islands::MeshData mesh_data(
-      {pbvh->looptri, pbvh->totprim},
-      {pbvh->corner_verts, mesh->totloop},
-      uv_map,
-      {static_cast<blender::float3 *>(static_cast<void *>(pbvh->vert_positions)), pbvh->totvert});
+  uv_islands::MeshData mesh_data({pbvh->looptri, pbvh->totprim},
+                                 {pbvh->corner_verts, mesh->totloop},
+                                 uv_map,
+                                 pbvh->vert_positions);
   uv_islands::UVIslands islands(mesh_data);
 
   uv_islands::UVIslandsMask uv_masks;
diff --git a/source/blender/draw/DRW_pbvh.hh b/source/blender/draw/DRW_pbvh.hh
index 924780421f8..8ab35dd4f6f 100644
--- a/source/blender/draw/DRW_pbvh.hh
+++ b/source/blender/draw/DRW_pbvh.hh
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 /* Needed for BKE_ccg.h. */
 #include "BLI_assert.h"
 #include "BLI_bitmap.h"
+#include "BLI_math_vector_types.hh"
 #include "BLI_offset_indices.hh"
 #include "BLI_span.hh"
 
@@ -34,13 +35,13 @@ struct PBVH_GPU_Args {
 
   BMesh *bm;
   const Mesh *me;
-  const float (*vert_positions)[3];
+  blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> vert_positions;
   blender::OffsetIndices<int> polys;
   blender::Span<int> corner_verts;
   blender::Span<int> corner_edges;
-  int mesh_verts_num, mesh_faces_num, mesh_grids_num;
+  int mesh_faces_num, mesh_grids_num;
   CustomData *vdata, *ldata, *pdata;
-  const float (*vert_normals)[3];
+  blender::Span<blender::float3> vert_normals;
 
   const char *active_color;
   const char *render_color;
diff --git a/source/blender/draw/intern/draw_pbvh.cc b/source/blender/draw/intern/draw_pbvh.cc
index 9495488f440..ce97094eb3d 100644
--- a/source/blender/draw/intern/draw_pbvh.cc
+++ b/source/blender/draw/intern/draw_pbvh.cc
@@ -345,8 +345,7 @@ struct PBVHBatches {
         flat = sharp_faces && sharp_faces[poly_i];
         if (flat) {
           const float3 fno = blender::bke::mesh::poly_normal_calc(
-              {reinterpret_cast<const float3 *>(args->vert_positions), args->mesh_verts_num},
-              args->corner_verts.slice(args->polys[poly_i]));
+              args->vert_positions, args->corner_verts.slice(args->polys[poly_i]));
           normal_float_to_short_v3(no, fno);
         }
       }
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_mask.cc b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_mask.cc
index 88e3fe37a5a..4d6db5a3f4c 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_mask.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_mask.cc
@@ -1542,7 +1542,7 @@ static void project_line_gesture_apply_task_cb(void *__restrict userdata,
       continue;
     }
     add_v3_v3(vd.co, disp);
-    if (vd.vert_positions) {
+    if (vd.is_mesh) {
       BKE_pbvh_vert_tag_update_normal(sgcontext->ss->pbvh, vd.vertex);
     }
     any_updated = true;
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.cc b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.cc
index 7a92dc8909d..0b510b1ae26 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/paint_vertex.cc
@@ -3262,7 +3262,7 @@ static void do_vpaint_brush_smear(bContext *C,
         const int v_index = has_grids ? ss->corner_verts[vd.grid_indices[vd.g]] :
                                         vd.vert_indices[vd.i];
         const float grid_alpha = has_grids ? 1.0f / vd.gridsize : 1.0f;
-        const float3 &mv_curr = &ss->vert_positions[v_index];
+        const float3 &mv_curr = ss->vert_positions[v_index];
 
         /* if the vertex is selected for painting. */
         if (use_vert_sel && !select_vert[v_index]) {
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt.cc b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt.cc
index bedf01c85ff..9fc21c9d6fa 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt.cc
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ float (*SCULPT_mesh_deformed_positions_get(SculptSession *ss))[3]
       if (ss->shapekey_active || ss->deform_modifiers_active) {
         return BKE_pbvh_get_vert_positions(ss->pbvh);
       }
-      return ss->vert_positions;
+      return reinterpret_cast<float(*)[3]>(ss->vert_positions.data());
     case PBVH_BMESH:
     case PBVH_GRIDS:
       return nullptr;
diff --git a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt_undo.cc b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt_undo.cc
index 56d5e0b6338..47453aa0004 100644
--- a/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt_undo.cc
+++ b/source/blender/editors/sculpt_paint/sculpt_undo.cc
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ static bool sculpt_undo_restore_coords(bContext *C, Depsgraph *depsgraph, Sculpt
 
     /* No need for float comparison here (memory is exactly equal or not). */
     index = unode->index;
-    float(*positions)[3] = ss->vert_positions;
+    blender::MutableSpan<blender::float3> positions = ss->vert_positions;
 
     if (ss->shapekey_active) {
       float(*vertCos)[3];
diff --git a/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_multires.cc b/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_multires.cc
index fa475cb2476..ef1cd210925 100644
--- a/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_multires.cc
+++ b/source/blender/modifiers/intern/MOD_multires.cc
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ static Mesh *modifyMesh(ModifierData *md, const ModifierEvalContext *ctx, Mesh *
       sculpt_session->multires.level = mmd->sculptlvl;
       sculpt_session->totvert = mesh->totvert;
       sculpt_session->totpoly = mesh->totpoly;
-      sculpt_session->vert_positions = nullptr;
+      sculpt_session->vert_positions = {};
       sculpt_session->polys = {};
       sculpt_session->corner_verts = {};
     }