News Flash: Read an important message from the Planning Team (PDF).
Ipswich Borough Council has confirmed an Article 4 Direction which affects parts of the Borough.
The confirmed Article 4 Direction, removes existing permitted development rights for material changes of use from dwelling houses (C3 use class) to small houses of multiple occupation (C4 use class), made under Article 4(1) of the General Permitted Development Order (2015 amendments), affecting the following wards: Alexandra; Bixley; Bridge; Castle Hill; Gainsborough; Gipping; Holywells; Priory Heath; Rushmere; St John’s; St Margaret’s; Westgate. In some cases, very small portions of wards are affected, and these areas can be viewed on the map attached to the Direction (links below).
This confirmed Article 4 Direction results in the requirement for applicants to make a planning application for changes of use from dwelling houses to small houses of multiple occupation, in order for them to be formally assessed by the Local Planning Authority. The Article 4 Direction, although now confirmed by Full Council, is a non-immediate direction, and it will therefore come into force on the 1 June 2024.
The confirmed Direction, supporting documentation and maps showing the extent of the confirmed area covered by the Article 4 Direction for small houses of multiple occupation was subject to an eight-week public notification period between 28 November 2023 to 23 January 2024.
Please note that the period for commenting on the Article 4 Direction has closed. The content on this page is for information purposes only.
Inspection of documents
The following documents are available for public inspection:
- Adoption Notice (dated 28 November 2023) (PDF)
- Full Council Report (PDF)
- Minutes of the Meeting of the Council, 15 November 2023 (PDF)
- Confirmed Ipswich Borough Council HMO Article 4 Direction, 24 November 2023 (PDF)
- Map Showing Areas Affected by the Article 4 Direction (PDF)
Detailed Maps
- Area 1 - Westgate Area (PDF)
- Area 2 - Norwich Road/London Road Area (PDF)
- Area 3 - Town Centre (PDF)
- Area 4 - Regent Area (PDF)
- Area 5 - Spring Road Area (PDF)
- Area 6 - Alexandra Park and Suffolk New College Area (PDF)
- Area 7 - East of the Railway Station Area (PDF)
- Area 8 - Felixstowe Road Area (PDF)
- Area 9 - Landseer Road Area (PDF)
- Public Notice, 10 May 2023 (PDF);
- Technical Evidence Paper (PDF);
- Equality Impact Assessment (PDF);
- Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report (under Regulation 9 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004) (PDF); and
- Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report (PDF)
The following documents are available for public inspection:
- Adoption Notice (dated 28 November 2023)
- Full Council Report
- Minutes of the Meeting of the Council, 15 November 2023
- Confirmed Ipswich Borough Council HMO Article 4 Direction, 24 November 2023
- Map Showing Areas Affected by the Article 4 Direction)
- Detailed Maps
- Public Notice, 10 May 2023;
- Technical Evidence Paper;
- Equality Impact Assessment;
- Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report (under Regulation 9 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004); and
- Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report
Policy DM20 Houses in Multiple Occupation Guidance
On the 21 August 2024 Ipswich Borough Council’s Planning & Development Committee endorsed the use of the ‘Policy DM20 Houses in Multiple Occupation Guidance Document’ for use by planning officers as an informal guidance document.
The guidance has been prepared as a practical resource to aid the identification of small and unlicenced Houses in Multiple Occupation, offering a systematic approach to ensuring the objectives of Policy DM20 are met and the impacts of Houses in Multiple Occupation on local communities are appropriately managed.
Policy DM20 Houses in Multiple Occupation Guidance Document, August 2024 (PDF)
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