Decision details

To consider the implications of the permitted development rights on the conversion of offices to residential uses in Bath.

Cabinet Member agrees that;

a)  Bath & North East Somerset Council makes a non-immediate Article 4 Direction under para 4(1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to withdraw permitted development rights for the Change of Use from Office (Class B1) to Residential uses (Class C3) in those parts of central Bath shown in the report;

b) authority is delegated to the Divisional Director for Development, in conjunction with the Council Leader to give notice of the Article 4 Direction in accordance with Schedule 3 of the General Permitted Development Order;

c)  The Cabinet considers whether to confirm, abandon or amend the Article 4 Direction following the statutory consultation; and

d)  any public representations made in response to the notice concerning the direction will be reported to the Cabinet for consideration.

The evidence supports the introduction of an Article 4 Direction over the high and medium risk parts of the BCAP (see Figure 3 above). There is particularly strong justification for the withdrawal of permitted development rights from parts of Bath City Centre in order to protect the wellbeing of the District’s residents. This is because they are significantly undermining a key strategic objective of the Council to boost the city’s profile as a more competitive economic centre for the District and enable a net increase the supply of office space in the City centre in order to address the longstanding problems of dependence on low wage sectors with the resultant severe housing affordability problems.

To decide not to pursue an Article 4 Direction.