The Council has decided to enact an Article 4 Direction on 14 October 2026 under Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015 (as amended).
The Direction removes the permitted development rights for the change of use from a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouse) of the Schedule to Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) to a use falling within Class C4 (Houses in Multiple Occupation) of the said Order and not being development comprised within any other Class. The Direction will be applied Borough-wide.
The Article 4 Direction will not affect existing small HMOs. It only applies to changes of use, which take place on or after 4 November 2026.
Have your say
We want you to tell us your views on the introduction of the Article 4 Direction and whether it should be made permanent. The consultation will run between 4 November 2026 and 16 December 2026. Once the consultation window has closed, representations will be reviewed and a report will be prepared summarising consultation outcomes and giving a recommendation on whether the Article 4 Direction should be confirmed.
You can have your say by completing the consultation form on the Council’s website here or, if this is not convenient request a consultation form by:
Emailing: KnowsleyLocal.Plan@knowsley.gov.uk
or writing to the Council at:
Article 4 Direction Consultation
Planning & Building Control Team
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Nutgrove Villa
Westmorland Road
Huyton
L36 6GA
You should include your details, and tell us whether you support the introduction of a whole Borough Article 4 Direction and the reason for your stance.
Further information
Find out more about the Article 4 Direction by viewing the following documents on the Council’s website (or request a copy from KnowsleyLocal.Plan@knowsley.gov.uk )
- HMO Article 4 Direction
- HMO Article 4 Public Notice
- HMO Article 4 Direction Evidence Report
- HMO Article 4 Equalities Impact Assessment
- Coverage of Article 4 Direction
A copy of the Direction and a map defining the area of the Direction are available for viewing at:
Huyton Library
Civic Way
Huyton
L36 9GD
A further notice will be published stating whether the Direction has been confirmed by the Council.