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 will come into force on 24 September 2022. 

The Article 4 Direction in relation to Class MA applies in the following areas of the borough:  

  • office and hotel growth location
  • locally significant employment locations
  • Hayes opportunity area
  • strategic industrial locations
  • locally significant industrial sites
  • primary and secondary shopping areas in metropolitan town centres
  • primary and secondary shopping areas in district town centre
  • primary and secondary shopping areas in minor town centres
  • local centres
  • local parades.

This type of development in these areas 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. 

Article 4 Direction Notices

Please see the Article 4 Direction Notices below for further details, including maps of the areas affected: 

The notices, directions and accompanying plans are also available to view below or 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. These Article 4 directions are in force from 30 July 2022. 

The Article 4 Direction in relation to  Class ZA applies in the following areas of the borough: 

Strategic industrial locations 

  • Uxbridge Industrial Area 
  • Hayes Industrial Area 
  • Stonefield Way, South Ruislip 
  • North Uxbridge Industrial Estates 

Locally significant employment locations 

  • Summerhouse Lane / Salamander Quay, Harefield 
  • Stockley Park 
  • Odyssey Business Park, Ruislip 

Locally significant industrial sites 

  • Packet Boat Lane, Cowley 
  • Braintree Road Industrial Area, South Ruislip 
  • Covert Farm, Heathrow 

Hotel and office growth locations 

  • Uxbridge Town Centre 

Office growth locations 

  • Stockley Park (Also Locally Significant Employment Location) 

Hayes opportunity area 

The Article 4 Direction in relation to  Classes AA and AB will apply in the following areas of the borough: 

Strategic Industrial Locations 

  • Uxbridge Industrial Area 
  • Hayes Industrial Area 
  • Stonefield Way, South Ruislip 
  • North Uxbridge Industrial Estates 

Locally significant employment locations 

  • Summerhouse Lane / Salamander Quay, Harefield 
  • Stockley Park 
  • Odyssey Business Park, Ruislip 

Locally significant industrial sites 

  • Packet Boat Lane, Cowley 
  • Braintree Road Industrial Area, South Ruislip 
  • Covert Farm, Heathrow 

In these areas, 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:  

The notices, directions and accompanying plans remain available to view below or by appointment only at the Civic Centre, London Borough of Hillingdon, 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.


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


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. 

Page last updated: 20 Jul 2023