Planning policy

In this section:
Article 4 Directions
Assets of Community Value
Brownfield Land Register
Community Infrastructure Levy
Infrastructure Planning
Local Development Scheme and Monitoring
Local Implementation Plan
Local Plan and Review
Neighbourhood Planning
Section 106 Monitoring
Self-build and Custom House Building
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
Supplementary Planning Documents and Guidance
West London Waste Plan
West London Affordable Workspace Study

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. 

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 

Class ZA 

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.

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, 530 KB) 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, 337 KB) 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:

 

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Page last updated: 24 Oct 2024
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