The Environment and Strategy Cabinet Member met on 30 September 2025 to discuss an Article 4 Direction Action Plan for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Scunthorpe. The Cabinet Member approved the preparation of an Article 4 Direction and authorised the publication of a notice and consultation on its introduction.

Article 4 Direction Action Plan

The Environment and Strategy Cabinet Member approved recommendations for the preparation of an Article 4 Direction to remove permitted development rights for the change of use from dwelling houses (Use Class C3¹) to new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) accommodating between three and six individuals (Use Class C4²) within Scunthorpe. They also approved the publication of a notice that the Article 4 Direction be introduced, and a consultation on its introduction, including an evidence report to justify the introduction of the direction and the areas where it will apply.

The Director: Communities submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the work undertaken to date on the Article 4 Direction in relation to HMOs in Scunthorpe, and seeking approval for an action plan to conduct a public consultation to support the introduction of a non-immediate Article 4 Direction restricting permitted development rights for C3 to C4 changes in Scunthorpe.

In April 2010, the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 was amended by the introduction of a new C4 use class covering small Houses in Multiple Occupation, defined as Use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a house in multiple occupation." Class C4 (small HMOs) – covered small, shared houses occupied by between three and six unrelated individuals, as their only or main residence, who shared basic amenities such as a kitchen and bathroom. 

On 1 October 2010, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order introduced a permitted development right to change the use of a building from a single house (C3) to a House in Multiple Occupation (C4) without the need to make a planning application. 

HMOs where there were more than six unrelated individuals sharing amenities did not fall within Class C4. These HMOs (known as large HMOs) were considered to be 'Sui Generis' because they did not fall within any specific planning use class. A change of use of a building to a large 'sui generis' HMO already required planning permission. 

The report and Action Plan appended to the report set out the key tasks, milestones and associated timelines to create the Article 4 Direction.