Article 4 Direction for Class E

The confirmation of a non-immediate Article 4 Direction for Major Centres, District Centres, Local Centres, Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL), Mixed-Use Employment Locations (MEL), some Locally Significant Industrial Sites (LSIS) and some Parades which removes permitted development rights for the change of use from commercial, business and service use (Use Class E) to residential use (Use Class C3), as allowed under Class MA, of Part 3, of Schedule 2 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (the GPDO 2015).

What the direction means?

Under an Article 4 Direction, permitted development rights can be withdrawn across defined areas. This will allow the Council to properly assess the impact of any loss of Class E uses through a robust methodology and, where necessary, refuse any application that would have an adverse impact.

Why is the change happening?

Helping to facilitate a thriving, diverse and inclusive local economy is one of the Council’s key priorities. This means growing and strengthening the local economic base, making available a wide range of job opportunities, workspaces and employment sites across the Borough. We believe the indiscriminate loss of retail, commercial, business and service floorspace to residential through permitted development would have a negative effect on our town centres and employment locations within the borough and jeopardise the Council’s ambition.

The Mayor of London encourages the use of Article 4 Directions covering Use Class E to Use Class C3 to protect the vitality and economic viability of town centres, employment and industrial areas as well as ensure high-quality residential development is delivered. Many other London Boroughs are also working towards this.

Article 4 Direction, including a map defining the area and associated documents

Notice of confirming the Article 4 Direction

We ran period of representation on this proposal from September 18 2024 to November 01 2024. At the end of the representation period and after reviewing comments made by the Public, the Mayor and Cabinet of Lewisham Council decided at its meeting on 29 January 2025 to confirm the Article 4 Direction.

The Direction will come into force on 01 November 2025. Therefore, from 01 November 2025 onwards an application for planning permission will be required for the change of a use of a building and associated land from commercial, business and service use to use as a dwelling house in the areas specified.

Published on: 18/03/2025