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The City Council has an “Article 4 Direction” in place that removes property owners’ permitted development rights to convert dwellings to houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The Article 4 Direction applies to an area of the city close to the University of Exeter’s Streatham and St Luke’s campuses (Article 4 Map December 2013.pdf (exeter.gov.uk). It is one of the planning tools available to us to help manage the impacts of students living in Exeter.
We also have a ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document’ (HMO SPD). This explains some of the planning matters that we consider when determining planning applications to convert dwellings to HMOs within the Article 4 area (HMO SPD January 2014.pdf (exeter.gov.uk).
In this consultation we want your thoughts on options for the future of the Article 4 Direction, including our preferred option to amend the Article 4 area. We also want your thoughts on some proposed changes to the HMO SPD and the evidence report that has helped us identify options for the Article 4 Direction.
You can use these pages to view and comment on the options, the draft SPD and the evidence report. The consultation is running from 22 May until 3 July 2023. Please respond by completing the questions when prompted, then selecting ‘next’ at the bottom of each page. You can comment on as little or as much as you want. We will ask you to provide your email address to prevent multiple anonymous submissions being made.
You can view a list of supporting documents here.
We have identified four options for the future of the Article Direction. The options and information about them can be viewed on the interactive map below, or by scrolling further down this page.
The options have been identified following extensive data collection, analysis and stakeholder discussions. Further details are set out in the evidence report which can be found on page 4 of this consultation.
To view the options on the interactive map, click on the symbol in the top left corner of the map inset below, then select the option you would like to view from the key that appears. To find out more information about an option, click on the dot in the key or within the option boundary on the map. If you would like to view the options on a satellite base layer, click on the satellite square in the bottom left of the map inset. If you would like to enlarge the map, click on the symbol in the top right corner of the map.
Option 1 is to make no changes to the existing Article 4 Direction area.
We have identified this as an option because:
However, option 1 is not our preferred option because:
Option 2 is our preferred option. This would result in the Article 4 Direction area enlarging to include:
This is our preferred option because:
A possible drawback with this option is that it could result in increased private rents, due to further restrictions on the supply by HMOs. However, this impact is uncertain.
Option 3 is to enlarge the Article 4 Direction area more than our preferred option, to include:
We have identified this option because:
However, option 3 is not our preferred option because:
Option 4 is to make a city-wide Article 4 Direction.
We have identified this option because:
However, option 4 is not our preferred option because:
We propose to amend the existing HMO SPD so that it reflects our preferred option (option 2) to enlarge the Article 4 Direction area.
The existing HMO SPD can be viewed here: HMO SPD January 2014.pdf (exeter.gov.uk).
Here is our proposed new HMO SPD:
Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document
Our proposals for the Article 4 Direction and HMO SPD have been informed by extensive data analysis and stakeholder consultations with local Councillors, HMO landlords and letting agents, the University of Exeter, student representatives and City Council officers. The findings of this work are provided in this evidence report: 2022 Review of Houses in Multiple Occupation: Data Update and Options Report
You can view a list of supporting documents here.