Article 4 directions

What is an article 4 direction?

An article 4 direction is a direction under article 4 of the General Permitted Development Order which enables a local planning authority to withdraw specified permitted development rights across a defined area. This means you may need planning permission for development that would normally be permitted.

This page details our current definitive article 4 direction list. However, we strongly recommend that you check any information with us by calling 020 7361 3012.

Office to residential use

The Council has confirmed the article 4 direction initially made in July 2017 to remove the permitted development rights ordinarily granted by Class O, Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended), allowing the change of use of a premises in an office use (Class B1a) to a dwelling house.   

The article 4 direction came into force on 31 May 2019.  It replaced an earlier exemption to the prior approval.  The article 4 direction relates to all offices across the borough.

Light industrial land

The Council has confirmed the article 4 direction initially made on 23 September 2016 to remove the permitted development rights ordinarily allowed under Class PA of Part 3 of Schedule 2 of the General Permitted Development Order 2015 (as amended), allowing the change of use of a premises in light industrial use to a dwelling house.

The direction concerns all relevant properties in the following areas:

• St Helen’s, Golborne, Notting Dale and Colville wards; 
• The Lots Road Employment Zone; 

The Council has also made article 4 directions for the following car repair garages outside of these areas:

• 17-19 Edge Street, W8 7PH
• 7 Russell Garden Mews, W14 8EU
• 13-14 Osten Mews, SW7 4HW
• 14-17 Astwood Mews, SW7 4ED
• 4, 5, 8, 9 and 23 Astwood Mews, SW7 4ED
• 16a Portobello Mews, W11 3DG
• Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DZ

Where in a B1(c) light industrial use. The direction came into force on 1 October 2017.

Launderettes

To homes:

The Council has an article 4 direction in place which has removed the permitted development rights ordinarily allowed under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class M of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 for the following launderettes.

• 154 Cromwell Road, London SW7 4EF
• 111 Earl’s Court Road, London SW5 9RL
• 28 Golborne Road, London W10 5PF
• 52 Golborne Road, London W10 5PR
• 341 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 6DW
• 395 King’s Road, London SW10 0LR
• 76 Tavistock Road, London W11 1AN

This means that planning permission is required for the change of use of a launderette to a residential use, and the building operations reasonably necessary to carry out this conversion.  This direction came into force on 24 July 2017.

To offices:

Class JA, of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 has introduced a new set of development rights. It replaces planning permission with a system of prior approval for changes of use of launderettes to offices.

The Council has started the process of making an article 4 direction to remove this provision. This new direction relates to the same named launderettes.

The direction was made on 6th September 2019.  Interested parties have until 21 October 2019 to comment. The Council will consider any comments received before deciding whether it will be appropriate to confirm this direction.  It is only on confirmation will the article 4 direction come into being. 

Full details are set out below:

Basements

The Council made an Article 4 Direction on 15 April 2015 to remove permitted development rights for basement extensions (the Article 4 Direction defines the rights that will be removed) to single dwelling houses across the borough. The Council consulted on the article 4 direction between 24 April and 8 June 2015 and it came into force on 28 April 2016. It applies to the entire area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Key decision report recommending confirmation

Read about the consultation.

Public houses

The Council has made and confirmed Article 4 Directions on The Academy Public House and Kensington Park Hotel Pubic House. These have removed the permitted development rights which would ordinarily allow a change of use, without the need for planning permission, from an A4 use (a public house) to an A1 use (a shop), A2 use (financial and professional service) or an A3 use (restaurant), either on a permanent or on a flexible temporary basis.”

Other article 4 directions

 Last update 6 September 2019