What is an 'Article 4' Direction?

Article 4 Directions are used by Local Authorities to bring works under planning control that would otherwise be "permitted development" — meaning they could ordinarily go ahead without planning permission at all. They're often used as a heritage protection tool, for example enabling a Local Authority to prevent the loss of historic details from buildings that sit within a Conservation Area but aren't otherwise protected through statutory listing. 

How widespread are they? 

We recently reviewed the use of Article 4 Directions as a heritage protection tool for Historic England, and identified over 2,000 heritage-related Article 4 Directions across England, with particularly heavy use in London, the South East, and urban areas generally. They're used to control a broad range of permitted development classes, with the top five most common being exterior painting, general extensions and alterations, hard surfacing, porches, and the erection of gates, fences and walls. You can read our full report here. 

Checking before you design 

Before embarking on designs for an extension, it's important to check whether an Article 4 Direction applies — particularly if you live in a Conservation Area. Carrying out works without realising a Direction is in place doesn't make them exempt from planning control; it simply means they're unauthorised, with the same enforcement risk as any other breach. 

Article 4 Directions are usually published by the relevant Local Planning Authority, either as a map or a list, on their planning webpages. If you'd rather not track this down yourself, our team of specialists can check on your behalf and advise on the implications for your design.