Article 4 Direction
Article 4 Directions remove the right to carry out certain types of 'permitted development' (development which does not require planning permission to go ahead). Work that is covered by an Article 4 Direction requires planning permission before it can proceed.
Article 4 Directions - Conservation Areas
Article 4 Directions are in force in Wakefield relating to the following conservation areas:
- Heath, Wakefield
- St Johns, Wakefield
- Whitwood Terrace, Castleford
This document contains more details including the Directions and maps showing their extent.
A list of individual properties covered by the Heath, St Johns and Whitwood Terrace Article 4 Directions are set out in this document.
There is also an Article 4 Direction in force for 28 Blenheim Road, Wakefield, WF1 3JZ.
Article 4 Direction – Smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation
On 23 October 2024 Wakefield Council made a non-immediate Article 4 Direction for specific areas of the district. Following consultation in November and December 2024 Cabinet made the decision the Direction should be confirmed at its meeting on 15 April 2025. The Direction was confirmed and sealed on 9 May 2025.
The Direction came into force on 24 October 2025. It removes permitted development rights from proposals to create houses in multiple occupation (HMO’s) for between 3 and 6 occupants. This means such proposals need to apply for and receive planning permission to go ahead.
The Article 4 Direction areas relate to:
- Castleford Centre North
- Castleford Smawthorne
- Wakefield Agbrigg
- Wakefield College Grove
- Wakefield Lincoln Street
- Wakefield Peterson Road
The specific boundaries can be viewed within the Direction.
A legal notice has been produced which was published in the local press and displayed in affected areas.
Links are also provided to:
- the Cabinet report recommending confirmation of the Article 4 Direction
- the Cabinet report appendix setting out responses to the consultation on the made Direction
- the report setting out the evidence justifying the introduction of the Article 4 Direction
View the Confirmation Cabinet Report.
View the Confirmation Cabinet report Appendix - consultation responses summary.
View the Article 4 Direction Evidence Report.
HMOs created under permitted development rights on or before 23 October 2025
For HMO’s for between 3 and 6 occupants which benefit from permitted development rights and don’t have planning permission because they were created on or before 23 October 2025, an application for a ‘certificate of lawful use’ can be made. If it can be proved the property was operating as a small HMO (Use Class C4) on or before this date, then the Council can issue a formal confirmation of the lawful use. This can help property owners, for example if they sell a property in the future or if the Council considers taking enforcement action against a property.
A certificate of existing lawful use can be applied for on the Planning Portal website. Application forms can also be requested from the Council by email - devcontrol@wakefield.gov.uk. Any application must include evidence to support the claim a property was in existing use as a small HMO on or before 23 October 2025, for example Council Tax records, tenancy agreements etc.