Article 4 directions

Article 4 directions in Exeter City Council

Exeter City Council has published 14 Article 4 direction areas in force to the national planning dataset (planning.data.gov.uk), as of our last update on 25 October 2026. 1 of them withdraws Class L — the change from a house (C3) to a small house in multiple occupation (C4) — according to the council's published record. 2 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Areas where Class L (small HMO) is withdrawn

Area	Reference	In force from	Record
2023 Article 4 Direction	A4D16	23 December 2024	source

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

11 records list the classes withdrawn without Class L; 2 records do not say which rights it withdraws. Codes such as 1A or 2C name the permitted development classes withdrawn (Part and Class of Schedule 2).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 13

Land Adjacent to St Davids Station, Bonhay Road from 1 November 2006 · 24A
Land at Duryard from 15 March 1981 · rights not stated
Land at Junction of Belmont Road and Western Way from 1 November 2006 · 24A
Land at Sidwell Street from 1 November 2006 · 24A
Land at the Exebridge Centre Car Park from 1 November 2006 · 24A
Land at the Junction of Leypark Road and Hill Barton Road from 1 November 2006 · 24A
Land at the Junction of Prince Charles Road and Stoke Hill from 1 November 2006 · 24A
Land at the Strand, Topsham from 23 April 1958 · rights not stated
Land North of Exwick Lane from 16 October 2007 · 24A
Midway Terrace and Ide Lane, Alphington from 20 March 2006 · 1A;1C;1D;1H;1G;2A;31B
Riverside Pastures, Stoke Road from 15 December 2004 · 2A;4B;5A;6A
St Leonard's Church Hall from 15 February 2018 · 11B;11C
The Crawford Hotel from 6 November 2012 · 31A;31B

Looking at a property in Exeter 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.