Article 4 Directions

Change of use or development that would result in new dwellings

On 17 April 2024, the Council made an Article 4 direction that will remove certain permitted development rights that would result in new dwellings. This is a non-immediate direction, the effect of which will be to require planning permission for specified forms of development within the area where the direction applies:

  • Change of use of commercial, business and service use (use class E) to residential (Part 3 of the GPDO, class MA);
  • Demolition of single, purpose built, detached block of flats or a single, detached office, light industrial or research and development building and its replacement with a detached block of flats or detached house (Part 20, class ZA).

The Direction applies to the following areas: town centres, large neighbourhood centres, small neighbourhood centres, strategic industrial locations, locally significant industrial sites and key existing office locations, as defined in the Hounslow Local Plan 2015-2030.

It is proposed that the direction shall come into force on 19 April 2025 subject to consideration of any representations received during the consultation period and the direction being confirmed by the Council. 

A copy of the direction, including the maps showing the areas covered within the Article 4 direction area, and the site notice, are available to download via the links below.

Representations on the direction can be made to the Council in writing from Friday 19 April until Friday 31 May 2024. To make representations, please email spp@hounslow.gov.uk. If you would like to send representations by post, the address is Spatial Planning, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB.

Relevant information including a copy of the Direction, and a map of the area covered is available below:

 

Erection of gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure outside the curtilage of a dwellinghouse – Brentford Dock

Pursuant to the completion of the consultation period a Chief Officer decision was made in March 2023 withdrawing this Article 4 Direction.

On 27 January 2023 Hounslow Council gave notice of the making of an immediate Article 4 Direction to remove the permitted development rights for the Erection of gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure outside the curtilage of a dwellinghouse within Brentford Dock.

The consultation period closed on Tuesday 21 February 2023. 

A copy of the Direction, including a map defining the area covered, is available below:

Dwellinghouses (C3) to small HMOs (C4) – borough-wide Article 4 Direction 

On 6 July 2022, Hounslow Council gave notice of the making of a non-immediate Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for change of use from a dwellinghouse (C3) to a house in multiple occupancy (C4). The notice applies to the entire borough (with the exception of open land, industrial areas, Chiswick Business Park, Bedfont Lakes Business Park and the Mogden Sewage Works). The Council consulted on the proposed Article 4 Direction from Friday 15 July to Friday 9 September 2022.

On 8 August 2023, Hounslow Council confirmed the Article 4 Direction. The Direction will come into force on Monday 4 September 2023.

A copy of the Direction, including a map of the area covered is available below:

 

Article 4(2) directions for Bedford Park and Gunnersbury Conservation areas

Under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, the Council has made 'Article 4 directions' which cover all properties in the Bedford Park and Gunnersbury Park conservation areas. The effect of the directions (in addition to standard conservation area controls) is that owners also need to apply for planning permission to make many other changes to their properties. This does not mean that the Council will necessarily refuse permission, but enables it to exercise greater for the following reasons.

The Council has made the directions to protect the best features on individual buildings and to ensure that any proposed alterations are in the best interests of the character of the conservation area. This may include removal of previous unsympathetic alterations where permission is needed to make changes.

Usually, the owner of a house in a conservation area can carry out considerable alterations to the property without the Council's permission. In some cases, these 'permitted' changes can harm the area's character if not carried out using appropriate details or materials (in the case of such features as windows, doors, roofs, perches, etc.) or to an excessive scale.

Details of the properties affected by the two Directions and what householders can and cannot do the their properties can be downloaded from the links below:

Article 4(2) directions for Bedford Park and Gunnersbury Park Conservation Area
Schedule Bedford Park
Schedule Gunnersbury Park
Environment services committee minutes & report
Sustainable development committee minutes & report
Sealed Article 4 Direction

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