Article 4 directions in London
An Article 4 direction is a local order, made under article 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, that removes permitted development rights in a defined area. Almost every London borough operates Article 4 directions, most commonly to require planning permission for alterations to dwellinghouses inside conservation areas, and to control changes of use to houses in multiple occupation.
Barnet
17 conservation areasArticle 4 directions in most conservation areas restrict alterations to dwellinghouses; HMO Article 4 in defined zones.
Bexley
22 conservation areasBrent
22 conservation areasBromley
47 conservation areasCamden
40 conservation areasArticle 4 directions cover most conservation areas, restricting windows, front doors, roof alterations, satellite dishes and front extensions.
City of London
27 conservation areasConservation area Article 4 directions; St Paul's Heights and Monument Views protected by policy.
Croydon
25 conservation areasEaling
30 conservation areasEnfield
22 conservation areasGreenwich
23 conservation areasMaritime Greenwich World Heritage Site; Article 4 directions in central conservation areas restrict windows, doors and roof alterations.
Hackney
29 conservation areasArticle 4 directions in many conservation areas restrict windows, doors, roof alterations and front extensions; borough-wide Article 4 for HMOs.
Hammersmith & Fulham
47 conservation areasConservation area Article 4 directions restrict windows, doors, render and roof alterations; borough-wide Article 4 for change of use of pubs and HMOs.
Haringey
29 conservation areasConservation area Article 4 directions restrict windows, doors, render, roof alterations and front extensions in most areas.
Harrow
28 conservation areasHillingdon
33 conservation areasHounslow
33 conservation areasIslington
40 conservation areasBorough-wide Article 4 covers HMOs; conservation area directions restrict alterations to dwellinghouses including windows, doors, roof alterations and front gardens.
Kensington & Chelsea
38 conservation areasComprehensive Article 4 directions across the conservation areas, removing permitted development for windows, doors, render, basements and rooflights in many streets.
Kingston upon Thames
27 conservation areasLambeth
64 conservation areasConservation area Article 4 directions restrict windows, doors, render, roof alterations and front gardens; HMO Article 4 in defined parts of the borough.
Lewisham
26 conservation areasMerton
26 conservation areasNewham
24 conservation areasRedbridge
13 conservation areasRichmond upon Thames
73 conservation areasComprehensive Article 4 directions across conservation areas restrict windows, doors, roof alterations, render, gates, front gardens and satellite dishes.
Southwark
44 conservation areasConservation area Article 4 directions restrict windows, doors and roof alterations in many areas; borough-wide office-to-residential restrictions in central locations.
Sutton
16 conservation areasTower Hamlets
58 conservation areasArticle 4 directions across most conservation areas restrict alterations to dwellinghouses; borough-wide Article 4 for HMOs.
Waltham Forest
18 conservation areasWandsworth
44 conservation areasArticle 4 directions in most conservation areas restrict alterations to dwellinghouses including windows and front extensions.
Westminster
56 conservation areasBorough-wide Article 4 directions remove permitted development for HMOs and a range of changes of use; conservation area Article 4s restrict windows, doors and roof alterations in many areas.
What Article 4 means in practice
Permitted development rights set out in Schedules 2 and 3 of the General Permitted Development Order let an owner make certain changes (extensions within set limits, replacement windows, satellite dishes, changes of use between specified Use Classes) without applying for planning permission. An Article 4 direction switches off some or all of those rights inside the area it covers. The result is that works that would be permitted on a similar property elsewhere instead need a full planning application, with the conservation officer engaged where the property is also listed or in a conservation area.
Common scope of London Article 4 directions
- Windows and doors. Replacement of original timber sash or casement windows, or original front doors, with non-matching designs.
- Roof alterations. Dormer windows, roof terraces, rooflights to front and side roof slopes.
- External finishes. Render, painting of unpainted brick, removal of original render.
- Front extensions and porches. Including hardstanding for off-street parking and removal of front boundary walls.
- Telecoms and satellite equipment. Front-elevation antennas and dishes.
- Houses in multiple occupation. Change of use from a dwellinghouse (Class C3) to a small HMO (Class C4), borough-wide or in defined zones.
- Office to residential and pub conversions. Borough-wide or in defined town centre zones in some boroughs.
What to do if your property is covered
Submit a full planning application for the works, supported by a heritage statement that engages with the relevant conservation area appraisal. Where the property is also listed, listed building consent is required as well, in addition to planning permission. See Listed building consent vs planning permission for how the two consents interact.
Sources
- Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
- Planning Practice Guidance, when planning permission is required
- Borough planning portals and conservation area appraisals (linked under each borough above where available).
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