Planning policy
Article 4 Directions
Article 4 Directions are issued to require planning permission for certain types of development where permission is not normally required.
Certain works that would normally require planning permission are permitted by the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) 2015.
The GPDO enables councils to issue an Article 4 Direction, which restricts the scope of permitted development rights either in relation to a particular area or site, or a particular type of development anywhere in the authority's area. Article 4 Directions are issued where evidence suggests that undertaking certain types of development (where planning permission is not normally required) would harm local amenities or the proper planning of an area.
The council introduces each Article 4 Direction under the The Town and Country Planning GPDO 1995 . Where an Article 4 Direction is in effect, a planning application may be required for development that would otherwise have been permitted development.
Please note: An Article 4 Direction does not prevent the development but instead requires planning permission to be obtained first from the council. This does not imply that the council will either approve or refuse the planning applications.
Changes of use from commercial, business and service uses to dwellinghouses
On 14 July 2022, the council confirmed a non-immediate Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights to change from commercial, business and service uses to dwellinghouses. This is the permitted development right covered by Class MA of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order. The Article 4 direction originally came into force on 24 September 2022.
Following this the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities modified this Article 4 Direction to reduce the extent of the area. The modified direction came into effect on 27 March 2024.
This type of development in the areas affected will require full planning permission. This is to ensure we can control and protect important areas of economic activity within the borough, including industrial areas and high streets. Where new residential development is proposed, it will continue to be subject to consideration against the policies in the Local Plan.
Please see the Article 4 Direction Notices below for further details, including maps of the areas affected. Please note that the modified Article 4 Direction has different boundaries to the designations on which they are based.
- Full council decision
- Letter from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (PDF) [93KB]
- Direction from the Secretary of State modifying the Article 4 Direction (PDF) [221KB]
- Notice of modification of the Article 4 Direction (PDF) [98KB]
- Appendix 1 - Whole Borough Map of Areas to be Covered by Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [18MB]
- Appendix 2 – (Local Parade Maps Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [11MB]
- Appendix 3 - (Local Centre Maps Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [2MB]
- Appendix 4 - (Primary and Secondary Shopping Areas in Minor Town Centres Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [1MB]
- Appendix 5 - (Primary and Secondary Shopping Areas in District Town Centres Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [2MB]
- Appendix 6 - (Primary and Secondary Shopping Areas in Metropolitan Town Centres Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [617KB]
- Appendix 7 - (Locally Significant Industrial Sites Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [944KB]
- Appendix 8 - (Strategic Industrial Locations Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [4MB]
- Appendix 9 - (Hayes Opportunity Area Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [593KB]
- Appendix 10 - (Locally Significant Employment Locations Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [1MB]
- Appendix 11 - (Office & Hotel Growth Location Only) Class MA Article 4 Direction (PDF) [614KB]
The above notices, directions and accompanying plans are also available to view by appointment only at the Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW.
Construction of new dwellinghouses in employment areas
On 14 July 2022, the council confirmed a non-immediate Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights to demolish vacant commercial buildings and construct new residential buildings in their place, together with the right to build new dwelling houses on detached or terraced buildings in commercial or mixed use. These are the permitted development rights covered by Classes ZA, AA and AB of Part 20 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order. The Article 4 directions originally came into force on 30 July 2022. Following this the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities modified this Article 4 Direction to reduce the extent of the area. The modified direction came into effect on 27 March 2024.
In the areas affected these types of development require full planning permission. This is to ensure the council can control and protect important areas of economic activity within the borough, and ensure that where new residential development is proposed it is subject to consideration against the policies in the Local Plan.
Please see the Article 4 Direction Notices below for further details, including maps of the areas affected. Please note that the modified Article 4 Direction has different boundaries to the designations on which they are based.
Class AA and AB
- Article 4 Direction Notice before modification (Classes AA and AB) (PDF) [288KB]
- Article 4 Direction and Plan before modification (Classes AA and AB) (PDF) [9MB]
- Letter from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Class AA and AB) (PDF) [91KB]
- Direction from the Secretary of State modifying the Article 4 Direction (Class AA and AB) (PDF) [378KB]
- Notice of modification of the Article 4 Direction (Class AA and AB) (PDF) [36KB]
- Article 4 Direction map whole borough (Class AA) (PDF) [18MB]
- Article 4 Direction map whole borough (Class AB) (PDF) [18MB]
- Article 4 Direction detail maps (Class AA and AB) (PDF) [4MB]
Class ZA
- Article 4 Direction Notice before modification (Class ZA) (PDF) [288KB]
- Proposed Article 4 Direction and Plan (Class ZA) before modification (PDF) [6MB]
- Letter from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Class ZA) (PDF) [93KB]
- Direction from the Secretary of State modifying the Article 4 Direction (Class ZA) (PDF) [205KB]
- Notice of modification of the Article 4 Direction (Class ZA) (PDF) [39KB]
- Article 4 Direction map whole borough (Class ZA) (PDF) [18MB]
- Article 4 Direction detail maps (Class ZA) (PDF) [5MB]
The above notices, directions and accompanying plans are also available to view by appointment only at the Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW.
Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
From March 2013, Hillingdon Council has made changes to the planning rules for houses of multiple occupation.
What's changed?
It's necessary to obtain planning permission to convert a family dwelling (Use Class C3) to a HMO with between 3 and 6 unrelated people sharing (Use Class C4) throughout the wards of Brunel and Uxbridge South.
Please note: Planning permission is already required for properties shared by 7 or more unrelated people.
Why the change?
The council is concerned about the effects of high concentrations of student housing in certain areas.
What properties are covered by the Article 4 Direction?
The Direction relates to development changing the use of a building to a Class C4 (houses in multiple occupation) from a use falling within Class C3 (dwelling houses). It removes permitted development rights for this type of development.
- View the order and map (PDF) [1013KB] for the Article 4 Direction or view the online mapping system.
Protection of strategic employment land
What's changed?
The Direction relates to development comprising the change of use of employment buildings to a residential use.
The Article 4(1) Direction removes permitted development rights B1(a) and B1(c) to C3 (Class O of the 2015 GPDO and Class PA of the 2016 GPDO, respectively) in specific parts of the borough to protect strategic employment land.
Planning permission is required for change of use to residential from 22 November 2017 in the strategic locations identified under the Article 4(1) Direction below.
Dates and documents
Hillingdon Council made an Article 4 Direction (PDF) [530KB] on 22 November 2016. The Direction was confirmed by Full Council and came into force on 22 November 2017.
- Full Council report 3 November 2016 - explaining the reasons for the Article 4(1) Direction.
- Full Council report 7 September 2017 - to consider the adoption of the Article 4(1) Direction.
Residential extensions
What's changed?
The Direction relates to development comprising the enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwelling house, where the enlarged part would have a single storey and would extend beyond the rear wall of the original dwelling house by more than 4 metres.
The Article 4(1) Direction removes permitted development rights for this type of development. Planning permission is required for such development from 22 September 2014.
Dates and documents
The council made an Article 4(1) Direction (PDF) [337KB] on 20 September 2013. The Direction was confirmed by Full Council and came into force on 22 September 2014.
Government consultation: Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes
The Government recently consulted on potential changes to the planning system. The scope of the consultation is available in the link below:
Hillingdon Council responded to this consultation. The response is available for download below: