In April 2021 the Government amended the General Permitted Development Order, removing the need for planning permission for changes of use of  E class “business, commercial and service use” to residential, and replacing it with a system of prior approval.  Class E uses include shops, restaurants, medical uses, indoor sports facilities, offices and workshops.  

In order to retain the ability to require planning permission, the Council has made a non-immediate Article 4 direction.  

This direction covers the entire borough.

The Council is consulting on this Article 4 Direction for eight weeks, starting from Wednesday 21 July and running to midnight on Wednesday 15 September 2021.

The Council would like to hear your views on whether the proposed Article 4 Direction would be appropriate. 

The Council will consider any representations received before deciding whether to confirm the Article 4 direction. This confirmation must take place at least a year hence, if the Council is not to be liable for the payment of any compensation associated with the removal of the permitted development right. As such, subject to consideration of representations, the Direction will come into force on 1 August 2022.

How to respond

• Online: You can submit your views via this on-line response form
• Email: Alternatively you can email your comments to planningpolicy@rbkc.gov.uk 

The Covid-19 pandemic does mean that many of our officers are not currently working in the Town Hall.  This means that whilst we will accept written representations there may be difficulties associated with processing such representations.

 

The address for any written comments to be sent to is:

The Planning Policy Team

Planning and Borough Development

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Kensington Town Hall

Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX

Whether using email or post please put the following reference on your representation. “Representation for the Article 4 direction, commercial uses to residential."