South Gloucestershire Council: Article 4 Direction for HMOs

What is the South Gloucestershire Article 4 direction?

South Gloucestershire Council has an Article 4 direction in force for houses in multiple occupation. The direction applies to Stoke Park, Cheswick, Filton, where landlords and developers must apply for planning permission to convert a dwellinghouse (Class C3) into a small HMO (Class C4).

Wards and areas covered

The South Gloucestershire Article 4 direction applies to the following wards and areas:

• Stoke Park
• Cheswick
• Filton

What this means for HMO investors

Because the Article 4 direction applies to specific wards or zones rather than the whole council area, the planning impact depends on the exact location of the property. Investors should check the precise postcode against South Gloucestershire's published map before assuming permission isn't required.

If you're considering acquiring or converting a property in South Gloucestershire, factor planning permission into your due-diligence timeline and budget. Refused applications can scupper a deal, and unauthorised conversions risk enforcement action and lender complications.