What is an Article 4?
An Article 4 Direction is a special planning regulation that gives extra planning control in a chosen area. (For example, a Conservation Area).
A Local Planning Authority (LPA) may have removed your permitted development rights by issuing an 'Article 4' direction.
It can remove permitted development rights for:
extensions
porches
replacement of windows and/or doors
painting the exterior of a building
gates, fences and walls
hardstandings
alterations such as new or replacement roofs
temporary building and structures
houses of multiple occupancy (HMO)
uses of the land and/or buildings
This means that you have to submit a planning application for any work, even if they wouldn't normally need planning consent. You will need to pay the relevant planning fee.
The paperwork on an Article 4 will show what rights have been removed.
If you want to check if your property could have an Article 4 direction, please use our constraint checker tool:
We update the system on a regular basis. But new directions may not be available straight away. So please be aware that a new Article 4 could now be in force, but not visible on our system.
We also inform anyone using the above system, to take a dated screen shot as evidence of their check.