Proposed Conservation Areas of Brownshill Green and Earlsdon

Purpose of the document 

This consultation statement has been prepared to explain what an Article 4 Direction is; what the Council is seeking to achieve with this Article 4 Direction; and why the Council considers it necessary. The statement will also explain how interested parties can get involved in the process.   

What is an Article 4 Direction? 

Not all forms of development require planning permission from the Council. 

Some types of development benefit from what are commonly called “permitted development rights”. These are set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended). 

However, where a Local Planning Authority (the Council) considers it necessary, it can make a direction under Article 4 of this legislation (an Article 4 direction) to over-ride the national allowances. 

The introduction of an Article 4 Direction does not mean that proposed alterations or development types will be refused, however it establishes the need for planning permissions to be sought for those elements covered under the direction.

What does this Article 4 Direction relate to? 

Coventry City Council has previously made commitments within its Local Plan (2011-2031) to consider the creation of Conservation Areas in Earlsdon and Brownshill Green. In line with this commitment, comment is now being sought upon a draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, which have gone on to inform the consideration of an associated Article 4 Direction. This proposal for an Article 4 Direction seeks to introduce an additional layer of oversight via the planning system to some elements of development which may affect the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.

Why is this Article 4 Direction considered necessary? 

Following assessment of the special character of areas which may become Conservation Areas, the Council believe that providing greater oversight on future proposals will contribute toward ensuring development proposals are respectful to local character.

What happens now?

The Council must consult on its intention to introduce an Article 4 direction for six weeks. After this period, it will consider any comments that have been made, and a report will be presented to Committee lead by the relevant Cabinet Member. If this Committee agrees that it is appropriate to impose the Article 4 direction, a decision will be made confirming the Article 4 Direction will be introduced. The Direction will then come in to force no sooner than the 1^st July 2022 

Once the Article 4 Direction is in place, will it be possible to make changes to my property? 

If the Article 4 Direction proposed is brought into force, certain elements of permitted development rights will be removed, this means that should you wish to undertake works of the type covered by the Article 4 Direction, planning permission will be required to be sought from the Local Planning Authority.

The introduction of an Article 4 Direction does not itself suggest that alterations will be refused, rather that permissions will be required and proposals will be assessed in regard to their impact upon the character of the Conservation Area.