Under the provisions set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 [Article 4] the council can remove or restrict the permitted development rights in relation to a specific site or area. This means that planning permission will be required where normally it would not. For example, alterations to windows, doors, painting of the exterior or alterations to boundary walls may be restricted through an Article 4 Direction.

These are often used to preserve features of historic interest in a conservation area. Below is a list of conservation areas in the district which have Article 4 Directions:

• Bath Mill Conservation Area
• Lancaster Conservation Area
• Glasson Dock Conservation Area
• Heysham Conservation Area
• Westfield Memorial Village Conservation Area
• Morecambe Conservation Area

The boundaries of these areas can be viewed on an interactive map of heritage assets

On  10^th November 2021, Lancaster City Council brought into force a Direction under Article 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) to remove what is currently permitted development (where an application for planning permission is not required) for the change of use of a dwellinghouse (occupied by a household living as a family) (Use Class C3) to a House of Multiple Occupation (3-6 Occupants) (Use Class C4). The Article 4 will relate to the Lancaster wards of Bulk, Castle, John O’Gaunt, Marsh, Scotforth East, Scotforth West, Skerton East, Skerton West and the village of Galgate.

The Article 4 Direction came into force on 10 November 2021 and from that date a planning application will be required to change the use of a dwellinghouse into a small HMO (Use Class C4) (3-6 occupants).

The Article 4 Direction applies to all HMOs brought into use on or after 10 November 2021. This includes:

• Any property that may previously have been in use as a HMO but at the time the Article 4 was brought into force was in use as a single dwellinghouse (Use Class C3);
• Any property that was in use as a HMO at the time of the Article 4 coming into force, but has been changed to a single dwellinghouse since.

The Article 4 Direction

• Article 4 Direction Confirmation  24 March 2021
• Public Notice  24 March 2021

Background information

• Cabinet Report 2 March 2021
• Minutes of Cabinet 2 March 2021
• Background Paper on the Designation of Article 4 Areas to Control Houses In Multiple Occupation
• Consultation Statement
• Copy of Article 4 ‘made’ on 10th November 2020

What is an Article 4 Direction?

An Article 4 Direction is part of planning legislation that allows the council to remove permitted development rights, including changes of use from an area. Permitted development rights are a national grant of planning permission which allow certain development to be carried out without having to make a planning application under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended). These rights can be withdrawn under Article 4(1) of the Order where is there is justification for the purpose and extent. 

What does an Article 4 Direction do?

The Article 4 Direction means that a planning application must be submitted for proposals to convert Dwellinghouses (Use Class C3 – houses occupied by a household living as a family) to a HMO (Use Class C4 - 3-6 occupants). 

The conversion to a large HMOs (more than 6 occupants) from a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) or premises in another use required planning permission before the Article 4 was brought into force and this will not change.

Applications will be considered in the context of Policy DM13 of the Development Management DPD, other relevant policies in the Local Plan and the Residential Conversions and Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document.

Which areas does the Article 4 Direction Apply To? 

The Article 4 Direction applies to the following ward areas:  

• Bulk, Castle, John O’Gaunt, Marsh, Scotforth East, Scotforth West, Skerton East, Skerton West, the village of Galgate
• View map of applicable ward areas

HMO Planning Policy

Policy DM13 of the adopted Lancaster Local Plan Development Management DPD, seeks to restrict the concentration of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) to a maximum of 10% in any 100m radius. The policy will manage the concentration of all new HMOs, including new build HMOs, the conversion of non-residential properties to HMOs and the change of use of dwellings (Class C3) to HMOs.  To help applicants and agents understand how the policy will be implemented, Lancaster City Council has adopted a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This document explains how the policy will be implemented, the calculation used to determine the number of HMOs and includes standards for new HMOs. The SPD can be found here 

HMO Density Map by Post Code

The Council has produced a data base of HMOs using Student Council Tax Exemptions and Licensing information which will be used to calculate the density of HMOs. As much of the data is derived from Council Tax data, for data protection reasons, individual HMOs will not be identified on the website. To help agents and applicants assess the density in an area, a map showing the density by post code is available. While this will not show the density for a particular 100m radius it will provide a guide to the density in particular areas.  The HMO Density Map by Postcode can viewed here.  If you intend to submit a planning application and wish to know the percentage of HMOs in the 100m radius around a specific property, please use the Pre-Application Service here. 

Declare a small house in multiple occupation (small HMO)

The council will consider whether it is expedient to take enforcement action where a dwellinghouse is converted to a small HMO without planning permission. Enforcement action would usually require the HMO to be converted back to and used as a dwellinghouse by a single household living as a family. The council has created a data base of known HMOs using the HMO Licence Register and houses with a student council tax exemption. This data may not capture all HMOs. 

The council is asking that landlords and owners of existing HMOs notify us of their properties to ensure that the database is as accurate as possible. Declaring and providing information about your small HMO will help the council in assessing whether they were implemented and brought into use before the Article 4 Direction came into force, if complaints arise in the future.

• HMO declaration form (DOCX)

Legal confirmation of HMO

Please note that notification will not provide a legal confirmation that the property is a HMO. For formal confirmation you will need to submit an application for an Existing Lawful Development Certificate.

Further advice about Lawful Development Certificates can be found here:

HMO licensing

Completely separate to planning regulations, where a property is used as a house in multiple occupation with five or more occupants that form more than one household, the landlord must obtain a HMO licence from the council.

Renewal of Regulation 7 Direction to Control ‘To Let’ Signs

Notice is hereby given that Lancaster City Council ("the Council") on Thursday 6 August 2026 made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government requesting that she makes a renewal of the Direction under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 ("the 2007 Regulations") to restrict the display of temporary advertisements relating to the letting of residential premises, which are displayed on the land or premises to which they relate, within the wards of Bulk, Castle, John O’Gaunt, Marsh, Scotforth East and Scotforth West within the District of Lancaster. The effect of a renewal of Direction under Regulation 7 of the 2007 Regulations would retain the existing restrictions on the deemed consent granted by Regulation 7 of the 2007 Regulations for temporary advertisements described in Class 3A in Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the 2007 Regulations in so far as it relates to temporary advertisements for the letting of residential premises. This would mean that no temporary advertisement signs for the letting of residential properties could be displayed on the land or premises within the prescribed area without the Council's express consent. 

Consultations on the renewal

Consultation ran for a 3-week period, and closed 3 September 2026. Any representationsmade will be sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Further details to follow,

Consultation ran for a 6-week period, between Monday 3 November and to 12noon on Monday 15 December 2025. All representations made have been sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

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Current  Regulation 7 Direction

Lancaster City Council received approval from the Secretary of State to introduce a Regulation 7 Direction to control the display of ‘To Let’ signs on residential properties in Lancaster. These controls are in response to growing numbers and concentrations of ‘To Let’ signs in parts of the city. The proliferation of these signs creates clutter in the street and they have a harmful impact on the visual quality and character of the local area, particularly in the terraced and historic streets of Lancaster. The aim is to remove these signs and enhance the visual quality of these streets.

When Did the Controls Come Into Force?

The Regulation 7 Direction came into force on 1 September 2021.

Please note:

This Direction has been effective in successfully managing ‘To Let’ boards but it must be renewed every 5 years. Therefore, the Council will proceed with the statutory process and submit a proposal to the Secretary of State requesting that a Direction under Regulation 7 is renewed. Further details to follow.

What Do The Controls Mean?

‘To Let’ signs usually benefit from deemed Advertisement Consent and do not require permission from the Council to be displayed on a property. The Regulation 7 Direction removes the deemed consent for the display of ‘To Let’ signs on residential properties. ‘To Let’ signs cannot be displayed in relation to residential properties in the areas covered by the Regulation 7 Direction.

‘To Let’ signs for commercial property (this does not include properties in residential use) and ‘For Sale’ signs will still benefit from deemed consent and can be displayed in most cases.

Where Do The Controls Cover?

The controls cover the following wards in Lancaster: Bulk, Castle, John O’Gaunt, Marsh and Scotforth East and Scotforth West. The areas covered by the controls can be viewed on the map below and on the interactive map here.

What Will Happen When A ‘To Let Sign’ Is Displayed Without Advertisement Consent?

Where a ‘To Let’ sign is displayed without Advertisement Consent, the Council can prosecute in the Magistrates Court. The fine on conviction can be up to £2,500 with an additional daily fine for a continuing offence. The Council would prefer not to have to take enforcement action or to prosecute agents for the display of ‘To Let’ signs. We ask for your cooperation and to ensure that by the date that the Regulation 7 Direction comes into force, all ‘To Let’ signs are removed. Once the controls come into force a survey will be carried out and prosecution will be pursued where appropriate.

Where Can I Find More Information?

More information can be found within the documents below.

• The Regulation 7 Direction
• Direction 7 Decision Letter
• Map of the area covered by the Regulation 7 Direction
• Executive Decision

Background documents

• Public Notice
• Submission Letter to the Secretary of State 
• Cabinet Report – 15th September 2020
• Minutes of the Cabinet Meeting 
• Background Paper on the Designation of a Regulation 7 Direction in Lancaster 
• Consultation Statement
• Interactive map
• Challenge Information
• Inspector's Report
• Cabinet Report - 7 June 2021
• Cabinet Minutes - 7 June 2021

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Advise about planning policy, HMO Density & Map by Post Code and Licensing, can be viewed here (under the HMO & To Let Signs drop down section)