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Article 4 directions

Article 4 directions in Bristol City Council

Bristol City Council has published 16 Article 4 direction areas in force to the national planning dataset (planning.data.gov.uk), as of our last update on 25 October 2026. 7 of them withdraw Class L — the change from a house (C3) to a small house in multiple occupation (C4) — according to the council's published record. 9 records do not say which rights it withdraws.

The national dataset holds what councils have published to it, so a recent direction may be missing — confirm with the council before relying on permitted development. An Article 4 boundary can split a postcode: check the exact address with the council.

Areas where Class L (small HMO) is withdrawn

AreaReferenceIn force fromRecord
Article 4 Avonmouth VillageA4D829 June 2020source
Article 4 EastA4D629 June 2020source
Article 4 NorthA4D529 June 2020source
Article 4 SouthA4D729 June 2020source
Ashley Ward, Cabot Ward, Clifton East Ward, Cotham Ward and Lawrence Hill Ward (1999 ward boundary)A4D1311 December 2011source
Clifton Ward (1999 ward boundary)A4D1221 October 2012source
Redland Ward (1999 ward boundary)A4D1121 October 2012source

Class L is Schedule 2, Part 3 of the General Permitted Development Order 2015; a small HMO (use class C4) has not more than six residents. A direction withdraws only the classes it names, so other changes of use may still be permitted development here — the source record shows what the council published.

Other Article 4 areas in force

0 records list the classes withdrawn without Class L; 9 records do not say which rights it withdraws. Codes such as 1A or 2C name the permitted development classes withdrawn (Part and Class of Schedule 2).

Show all 9

Looking at a property in Bristol City Council? Analyse it with DataDeal — the analysis checks Article 4 at the property's postcode, with stamp duty, mortgage and cash flow after tax across six strategies.