Warrington Borough - Article 4 Direction Restricting Conversion of Dwellinghouses to HMOs

WARRINGTON BOROUGH COUNCIL

NOTICE OF A WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION MADE UNDER ARTICLE 4 (1) OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT (GENERAL PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT) (ENGLAND) ORDER 2015

(AS AMENDED)

NOTICE is hereby given that Warrington Borough Council (“the Council”) has made a with immediate effect Article 4 Direction under Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (“the Order”). The Direction applies to development consisting of a change of use of a building from a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouses) of the Schedule to the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) to a use falling within Class C4 (house in multiple occupation) of that Schedule. The Direction withdraws permitted development rights for this type of development.

The Direction shall come into force immediately on the 25th of September 2026.

From this date onwards, the change of use of a dwellinghouse (C3) to a house in multiple occupation (C4) shall not be carried out unless planning permission is first granted by the Council for this change of use. A planning application will need to be made to the Council for the grant of planning permission under Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) before such development can be undertaken.

The Article 4 Direction applies to land shown edged red on the Plan (excluding the land edged black) attached to the Direction which comprises land outside of the Central Six Wards of the Borough, those Central Six Wards being Orford, Poplars and Hulme, Fairfield and Howley, Latchford East, Latchford West and Bewsey and Whitecross.

A copy of the Direction and the Plan defining the geographical area to which it relates, are available to view during normal office hours at 1 Time Square, Warrington, WA1 2NT.

They can also be viewed electronically at: https://www.warrington.gov.uk/article4-hmo.

The Direction shall remain in force until 25 March 2027 and shall then expire unless it has been confirmed by the Council. The Council will consider any representations submitted by 19 October 2026, in deciding whether to confirm the Direction. During this time, please email your comments to localplan@warrington.gov.uk using ‘HMO consultation’ as the subject line.

Alternatively, written comments can be sent to: Warrington Borough Council, Planning Policy and Programmes (HMO Consultation), East Annexe, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH.

All written and email representations received during this consultation will be taken into account by the Council when considering whether to confirm the Direction.

A further notice will be published stating whether or not the Direction has been confirmed by the Council.

Steve Hunter, Executive Director of Place (Interim), Place Directorate

Dated: 25th September 2026