Article 4 Directions
Article 4 Directions remove permitted development rights over certain works. This planning permission is required for specific developments that would otherwise not require it.
It helps us to better protect the character or land use in a specific location or area.
The Article 4 Directions in place for Welwyn Hatfield are listed below. There are also a number of historic Article 4 Directions in place.
Employment Sites
Confirmed Article 4 Directions are in place on a number of employment sites across the borough.
They remove permitted development rights to:
- demolish buildings used as offices, research and development, or light industrial (or any combination of those uses) and replace them with purpose built flats or detached houses
- convert offices to residential accommodation
Article 4 Direction Employment confirmed (26 January 2022)
Article 4 Direction Employment Areas confirmed (January 2022)
Article 4 Direction Employment sites confirmed (17 September 2020)
In October 2022, the Secretary of State made minor modifications to the boundaries of the areas covered by these Article 4 Directions, to better reflect national policy as set out in paragraph 53 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The notice of these modifications and revised site plans are attached below.
Article 4 Class MA Modification Notice (18 October 2022)
Article 4 Class ZA Modification Notice (18 October 2022)
Land to the West of Vineyards Road, Northaw
There is a confirmed Article 4 Direction for Land to the west of Vineyards Road, Northaw following the sale/auction of parts of the land into individual plots.
It removes permitted development rights on the land for items such as fences and the temporary use of the land within the green belt.
Landowners must seek planning permission for such development. We can take enforcement action if any breaches occur.
Article 4 Direction for Land to West of Vineyards Road confirmed (28 September 2021)
Land at Digswell Park Road
The is a confirmed an Article 4 Direction at Digswell Park Road following the sale/purchase of these land parcels as sub-divided plots.
It removes permitted development rights for items such as fences, new accesses and temporary use of the land in the green belt and within Welwyn/Digswell viaduct.
It requires landowners to seek planning permission and creates the opportunity for the Council to take enforcement action if any breaches occur.
Article 4 Direction Digswell Park Road confirmed
Additional Storeys in Hatfield
There is a confirmed Article 4 Direction covering Hatfield which removes the permitted development rights for additional storeys to be built onto existing blocks of flats.
Landowners must seek planning permission for any such proposed developments.
Article 4 Direction Additional Storeys confirmed (June 2022)
In October 2022, the Secretary of State made a minor modifications to the boundary of the area covered by this Article 4 Direction, to better reflect national policy as set out in paragraph 53 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The notice of this modification and revised site plan is attached below.
Article 4 Class A Modification Notice (18 October 2022)
Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
There is a confirmed Article 4 Direction in place which removes permitted development rights allowing the conversion of homes into HMO's in Hatfield.
Article 4 Direction Houses of Multiple Occupation in Hatfield confirmed (April 2011)
The Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will be used to determine planning applications for any proposed HMO.
The criteria covered in the SPD are:
- Creating mixed, balanced, sustainable and inclusive communities
- Car Parking
- Bicycle Parking
- Waste and Recycling Storage and Collection
- Layout and Design
- Flood Risk
There is also a Note of Clarification (January 2014).