Article 4: What is it and how will it affect property in Gwynedd?

September 11, 2024

Article 4: What is it and how will it affect property in Gwynedd?

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By Siôn Fôn

Due to unaffordability of local housing in North Wales, Cyngor Gwynedd has decided to serve an ‘Article 4 Direction Notice’ for the Gwynedd area.

What is Article 4?

An Article 4 Direction is a planning tool which restricts your ability to change the use of your property, for certain uses, without obtaining planning consent from the Local Planning Authority.

The main aim of this Article 4 is to lessen the amount of second-homes and holiday-lets in the area in hopes that the local young people will eventually be able to afford to buy their first homes in their local area.

Use classes

Three new use classes have been created for Gwynedd –

• Main residences = Use Class C3
• Second homes = Use Class C5
• Short-term holiday lets = Use Class C6

Previously, owners of these use classes were able to change between them without acquiring planning permission. However, since 1^st September 2024 these owners no longer have the right to do the following actions without having first obtained planning permission:

1. change the use of their main residence (C3) into a second home (C5) or short-term holiday let (C6)
2. change the use of their second home (C5) into a short-term holiday let (C6);
3. change their short-term holiday let (C6) into a second home (C5).

How will Article 4 impact you?

If you already have a property which is currently being used as a second home or short-term holiday let then you will not be affected by Article 4. This is because property-owners are not expected to submit any planning applications for uses that were already established before 1^st September 2024. It is important that owners keep a detailed account and evidence of their use, as they could be challenged.

Going forward, if you wish to change the use of a property within Gwynedd into a second home or a short-term holiday let, you will need planning advice.

If you need assistance with any of the above, contact Darwin Gray’s commercial property experts in our Bangor office for a free no-obligation call on 01248 301 100 or contact us via our Contact Form.