Issue - meetings

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director Environment and Regeneration, that sought approval to remove the permitted development rights for the change of use from Use Class C3 (dwelling houses) to C4 (HMOs). The report advised that Local Planning Authorities had the power, in exceptional circumstances, to withdraw permitted development rights through the making of an Article 4 direction. This meant that deemed planning permission would not be granted automatically and an application needed to be made to the Council. It did not prohibit development but enabled the Council to have some control over the proposed development and to apply its own policies.

          The report set out the type of Article 4 directions, the proposed local areas where it was required, together with evidence and justification, the procedure and the timescales involved to obtain Article 4 direction.

          RESOLVED: That

1)    the making of an immediate Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for the change of use from Use Class C3 (dwelling houses) to C4 (HMOs) as set out at Appendix 4 be approved;

2)    the required notifications as set out in the report and the publication of a public notice as shown in Appendix C be authorised;

3)    following notification and consultation, the matter is brought back to the Board to consider any consultation responses and make a decision on whether to confirm the immediate Article 4 Direction;

4)    authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Transportation in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Environmental Sustainability to amend the Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to include the making of the article 4 direction; and

5)    it was noted that this proposal is a key decision which has not been included on the Council’s Forward Plan and the procedure set down in Rule 16 of the Access to information Procedure Rules of the Constitution have been followed.