Ensuring our residents and communities are at the forefront of our decision making, Hounslow Council has taken the bold step to ensure better protection for the borough’s town centres, neighbourhood shopping parades and designated employment areas.
Published: Thursday, 24th April 2025
The Council’s new Article 4 Direction, which came into force on 22 April, strengthens local oversight of development by removing permitted development rights that previously allowed commercial and business spaces to be converted into housing without full planning permission.
This decisive action ensures that future development is guided by local needs and allows the Council to protect local jobs, retain critical workspace and services, and maintain space for future employment and enterprise.
It means that while the Direction does not prevent development entirely, proposals for conversions or changes of use in these areas will require a formal planning application. This move also reinforces the Council’s firm commitment to delivering high-quality, genuinely affordable homes — and in a way that supports economic opportunity and strengthens local neighbourhoods.
Cllr Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, said:
Our town centres and employment hubs are the backbone of our local economy and our communities. They more than just places of work — they are the beating heart of local life. This Article 4 Direction enables us to take a balanced and strategic approach to development — one that delivers new homes where appropriate, but doesn’t come at the cost of jobs, services, or our long-term economic growth.
We need new homes - absolutely - but we must build the right homes, in the right places, balanced with employment and business opportunities as well. This approach will help us deliver that and ensure Hounslow remains a great place to live, work and invest.
The Article 4 Direction also strengthens the Council’s ability to secure contributions through the planning process towards vital infrastructure, including affordable housing, as part of any new development proposals.
The Direction is also a key part of the Council’s wider strategy — as outlined in our Business Case for Growth — to support sustainable economic growth, preserve vibrant local centres, and ensure planning decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of local communities.
