Guides · 4 min
Article 4 directions
An Article 4 direction takes away rights you would otherwise have had.
What it does
Normally you can do some work without an application. An Article 4 direction lets the council remove those rights in a named area, or even on named houses. After that, you apply, even for work that looks small, such as new windows or a roof light.
There is often no planning fee for an application that is only needed because of an Article 4 direction. The council can still refuse it.
How to find one
They are common in conservation areas, and also on some ordinary streets where the council wants to keep front gardens, windows or small houses from being turned into flats.
The report checks the national map. Also ask the council, because a new direction can be easy to miss.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.
Questions
Does Article 4 mean I cannot extend?
No. It means you have to apply. Many modest schemes are still allowed.
Is Article 4 the same as a conservation area?
No. A conservation area is a designation. An Article 4 direction is a tool that removes specific rights, sometimes inside that area and sometimes outside it.
Check with your council. Rules change, and every house is different.