Article 4 Directions
Permitted development rights in national planning legislation allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application.
An Article 4 Direction removes some permitted development rights for a property or area. A council planning permission is needed to carry out the prescribed development.
We will then assess the application like any other. It will be checked against the relevant policies in the development plan and other factors.
They will also be subject to planning application fees, inline with other change of use applications.
Further information on permitted development and Article 4 Directions can be found on the national Planning Portal.
Confirmed Article 4 Directions
Changes of use from Class E uses to Residential
The council has confirmed an Article 4 direction to remove permitted development rights for changes of use from Class E uses to Residential (Class C3) uses in certain parts of the borough.
This was approved by the Mayor in Cabinet on 1 August 2022 and will come into force on 18 August 2022.
On 14 June 2023, the Secretary of State wrote to the council. He directed an amendment to revise the area to which this could apply. The following map shows the revised boundary.
The Article 4 direction and supporting information are available to view:
Changes of use from residential dwellings to small houses in multiple occupation
The council has confirmed an Article 4 direction. It removes the right to convert residential dwellings (C3) to small HMOs (C4).
This was approved by the Mayor in Cabinet on 29 January 2020 and came into force on 1 January 2021.
This direction applies to the whole of the borough.
The Article 4 direction and supporting information are available to view: