Hainault Business Park Article 4 Directions Consultation

Overview

On 18 January 2021 the Council served an Immediate and a Non-immediate Article 4 Direction at Hainault Business Park. This was agreed at a Cabinet meeting on 10 September 2020 to protect the business park from the cumulative effects of existing permitted development rights, and newly introduced Government legislation for permitted rights for demolition, which together presents a level of development pressure on Hainault Business Park that has not previously existed.

To continue its commitment to the promotion of business and employment on the business park, the Council believes the use of an Article 4 Direction is justified to protect key business activities and employment. The Article 4 Directions will allow the Council to better control proposals for development on Hainault Business Park through the planning application process, without which the council’s inability to otherwise control development would have a significant adverse impact on the proper planning of the area.

The proposed Article 4 Direction for Hainault Business Park will remove the following permitted development rights:

• changes of use from offices, distribution, and light industry, to residential use (office to residential prior approvals)
• the demolition of buildings in use as offices, research and development of products and processes, light industry, permitted under Class ZA, (effective from 1 September 2020)

Why we are consulting

To get the views of businesses on Hainault Business Park on the serving of Article 4 Directions, to help determine the confirmation of the Article 4 Directions.

What happens next

A report on the outcome of the consultation will be submitted to the Cabinet meeting for 18 May 2021. Cabinet will decide which Article Direction to confirm.