Article 4 Direction Consultation

The Council is consulting businesses and landowners in its 13 designated town centres across the borough, residents, and other interested parties, on the introduction of a ‘non-immediate Article 4 Direction.’

In response to growing concerns about an increasing number of shops, offices and other commercial buildings in the borough’s town centres being converted to residential dwellings under permitted development rights, the Council has taken a decision to introduce a Non-Immediate Article 4 Direction that will bring this type of development into planning control. 

This does not mean that this type of development is unacceptable; it simply means that a planning application will be required where the Council will then consider these forms of development against the Development Plan. Where applications are considered as acceptable, planning permission would be granted, and appropriate conditions imposed as needed.

The Article 4 Direction is proposed to come into force in November 2025, no sooner than 12 months from the date that notice of making the direction is published, subject to the consideration of consultation comments received, the views of the Secretary of State and subsequent confirmation by the Council.