Article 4 directions

Find out about article 4 directions, what affect they have on permitted development rights and where they apply in Uttlesford.

Current planning legislation allows property owners to make alterations to their property without planning permission. This is called permitted development.

An article 4 direction is a direction under article 4 of the General Permitted Development Order which enables the Secretary of State or the local planning authority to withdraw specified permitted development rights across a defined area.

What can an article 4 direction do

Provided that there is justification for both its purpose and extent, an article 4 direction can:

remove specified permitted development rights related to operational development or change of use
remove permitted development rights with temporary or permanent effect

This means that if a property is subject to an article 4 direction you will need to submit a planning application for permission before you do certain works, which would not normally require permission.

This is to ensure that certain types of development can be managed to preserve the special character of the locality and avoid harmful alterations.

Find if a building is subject to an article 4 direction

You can check if a building, group of buildings or other structure is subject to an article 4 direction by searching our constraints maps (opens new window).

We also publish an 'Order' for each area where article 4 directions apply.

This should also have been highlighted in your 'searches' if you purchased your property after 2011-12. If in doubt, you may wish to contact your solicitor, or check the paperwork from when you purchased your property.

Article 4 direction 'Orders'

Each 'Order' lists all the types of development which required planning permission, and a full list of the properties affected by the order.

The 'Map' shows the extent of the area and the properties affected.