A consultation is running for six weeks until 14 March 2022 relating to a proposed new Article 4 Direction (A4D) which would override national permitted development rights relating to changes of use from Use Class E (commercial, business and service) to residential. The A4D will come into effect on 1 February 2023 subject to confirmation by the council and the Secretary of State not intervening to modify or cancel it.
The Council’s existing office to residential A4D will lapse on 31 July 2022. This new A4D largely replaces it but will also cover other uses that fall into Class E as well as offices – shops, restaurants, light industrial, childcare facilities, indoor sport and so on. The area to be covered by the new A4D includes the area of the existing office to residential A4D (slightly amended to include the east side of Valley Gardens and Circus Street), as well as the city’s primary retail frontages, local centres and important local parades.
Further details and a link to the consultation is on the council website:
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/planning/update/class-e-residential-article-4-direction