The Executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council met on Wednesday 22 April 2026 and confirmed the implementation of an Article 4 Direction to control the conversion of houses into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in a defined area of Hinckley. The council also agreed to delegate future Article 4 Direction decisions for the wider borough to the Leader of the Council and the Director of Place.

Article 4 Direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation

The council confirmed the implementation of an Article 4 Direction, which will come into force on 1 May 2026, to regulate the conversion of dwelling houses into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) within a specific area of Hinckley. This decision follows a public consultation that revealed a majority of respondents supported the introduction of stronger planning controls to manage the concentration and clustering of HMOs.

Madeline Shellard, Director of Place, presented the report, explaining that the evidence base identified increasing concentrations of HMOs in parts of the borough, particularly around Hinckley Town Centre, which were associated with negative impacts on residential amenity, community balance, environmental conditions, and local service pressures. The consultation, which ran for five weeks and received 656 submissions, showed that approximately two-thirds of respondents supported the Article 4 Direction. Supporters cited the need for stronger planning controls to manage HMO concentrations and address issues such as parking, waste management, noise, and neighbourhood character. Those who opposed the direction raised concerns about the potential impact on the supply of affordable shared housing and the fairness of removing permitted development rights.

Councillor SL Bray, Leader of the Council, formally moved the recommendations, highlighting that while HMOs have historically provided essential low-cost accommodation, their recent rise has caused significant concern. He noted that the issue had become more prominent due to the government's decision to use HMOs for asylum seeker dispersal, a policy he strongly criticised. Councillor Bray emphasised that the Article 4 Direction would not ban HMOs but would ensure that all conversions require planning permission, allowing for proper assessment and consultation with nearby residents. He also addressed concerns about expanding the Article 4 Direction across the whole town or borough, explaining that government guidance requires such directions to be used proportionately and evidence-based.

An additional recommendation was proposed and seconded, which delegates future Article 4 Direction decisions for the wider borough to the Leader of the Council and the Director of Place, in consultation with the relevant ward members. This delegation aims to ensure a more responsive and effective decision-making process for emerging issues.

The Executive unanimously resolved to:

• Note the outcome of the public consultation and the majority support for the Article 4 Direction.
• Confirm the Article 4 Direction, to come into force on 1 May 2026.
• Delegate authority to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make future amendments to the defined area for the Article 4 Direction within Hinckley, based on emerging evidence.
• Monitor and keep the operation of the Article 4 Direction under review.
• Delegate all Article 4 Direction decisions for the wider borough to the Leader of the Council and the Director of Place, in consultation with the relevant ward members, following evidence-led analysis and consultation.

The meeting also noted a statement from Councillor Lambert, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, who expressed satisfaction with the oversight of the Article 4 Direction process and supported the recommendations, believing that further scrutiny by the commission would unnecessarily delay the process.