Content

Recommendations
approved.
 
Reasons for recommendations

1.     
It is necessary to confirm the immediate Article 4
direction before the 23 March 2026, otherwise the direction will
expire and the permitted development right to materially convert a
dwellinghouse into a small HMO will be restored.

2.     
The confirmation of the immediate Article 4
direction will allow for the continued regulation and monitoring of
HMOs, and for conditions to be attached to planning permissions. It
will continue to improve the Council’s ability to ensure the
management standards of HMOs are maintained.

3.     
Allowing the immediate Article 4 direction to expire
will mean that any future policy in the Central Lancashire Local
Plan or a future Supplementary Planning Document or equivalent,
which has a policy on conversion of dwelling houses to HMOs, would
not apply to conversions for six or fewer residents as these would
have permitted development rights.
 
Other
options considered and rejected
To not confirm the immediate
Article 4 direction and allow the direction to expire on 23 March
2026. This would result in the immediate Article 4 direction no
longer applying and the permitted development right to materially
convert a dwellinghouse into a small HMO to be utilised again. The
Council would not have control of conversions to small HMOs (i.e.
for occupation by between 3 and 6 unrelated people) in the borough.
There is a risk of clusters of HMOs occurring which might impact on
residential amenity and increasing risk of displacement of smaller
HMOs where neighbouring Councils have introduced the
measure.