The Executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council met on 22 April 2026 to discuss and approve an Article 4 Direction concerning Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in a defined area of Hinckley. This decision follows a public consultation that indicated majority support for the measure, aimed at increasing planning control over HMO developments. The meeting also confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting and addressed apologies for absence.

Article 4 Direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation

The council's Executive has confirmed and approved the implementation of an Article 4 Direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in a specific area of Hinckley. This decision, which will come into effect on 1 May 2026, means that planning permission will now be required for any new HMO developments within the designated zone. This change aims to give the council greater control over the concentration and clustering of HMOs, addressing concerns raised by residents regarding parking, waste management, noise, and the impact on neighbourhood character.

The report presented to the Executive detailed the outcome of a five-week public consultation, which received 656 submissions. Approximately two-thirds of respondents expressed support for the Article 4 Direction, with many highlighting the need for stronger planning controls to manage the impacts of HMOs. 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, moved the recommendations, emphasizing that while HMOs provide essential low-cost accommodation for some, their increasing concentration was causing significant concern. He noted that the issue had gained prominence due to the government's use of HMOs for asylum seeker dispersal, a policy he strongly criticised, stating that the council had no jurisdiction over this and that properties acquired by the council were for local housing needs. Councillor Bray also highlighted that most HMO conversions currently do not require planning permission, making the Article 4 Direction a necessary tool for better regulation and oversight.

The Executive also agreed to an additional recommendation, delegating authority for future Article 4 Direction decisions across the wider borough to the Leader of the Council and the Director of Place, in consultation with relevant ward members. This delegation is intended to ensure a more responsive and effective decision-making process for emerging issues, based on evidence-led analysis and appropriate consultation.

The decision was met with unanimous approval, with members expressing their commitment to addressing residents' concerns and working within the council's powers to manage the impact of HMOs. Councillor Ball stated, We are here tonight because the government has lost control with this. We are tied and limited by what we can do and this is actually as far as we can go. Councillor WJ Crooks added that the Article 4 Direction does not give us the tool to blanket stop on HMOs what it does do is ensure that there's a fairer better outcome for those that are granted for the residents that are going to be living in those and more importantly for the residents that are impacted during the construction works.

The operation of the Article 4 Direction will be actively monitored through various indicators, and the council will keep the impact under review, retaining the ability to amend the defined area within Hinckley if justified by emerging evidence.

The meeting also noted apologies for absence from Councillor Keith Lynch. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 25 March were confirmed as a correct record, and no declarations of interest were made. A statement from Councillor Lambert, Chair of the Scrutiny Commission, was read out, expressing satisfaction with the oversight of the Article 4 direction process and support for the recommendations.