Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 15 July 2021, the Executive authorised the making of two Article 4 Directions to remove C3 to C4 permitted development (PD) rights which allowed homes to convert to houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). The Executive authorised an immediate Direction covering Biggin Hill and Darwin wards, and a non-immediate Direction covering the rest of the Borough. The immediate Direction had to be confirmed by 28 February 2022 in order to remain in force after this date, while the non-immediate Direction had to be confirmed before 1 September 2022 in order for it to come into effect.

At its meeting on 11 January 2022, the Development Control Committee considered a report with updated information on HMOs; the report recommended that the Directions were not confirmed due to the lack of sufficient justification to confirm, in line with the requirements of national planning policy and guidance. The Committee had considered the report and voted to recommend that the Directions were confirmed, based on noted concerns from several Members about the adverse impacts of HMOs.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to authorise the confirmation of the “immediate” and “non-immediate” Article 4 Directions at Appendix 3 to the report.