DCLG agrees to rescind decision to quash Article 4 direction

The Department for Communities and Local Government has reportedly agreed to rescind its decision to quash a council’s Article 4 direction halting office-to-residential conversions without planning permission in certain areas.

Islington Council claimed the DCLG had admitted that it had “got its numbers wrong” when it justified its decision to block the direction.

In July the then Planning Minister, Nick Boles, cancelled the direction just days before it was due to come into force.

Boles said ministers had considered Islington’s further proposal for the Article 4 direction to apply to a reduced area (it had originally sought to cover the whole area), but had concluded – in light of the tests set out in national policy and guidance – that it remained “unacceptably expansive and unjustified”.

He added that ministers had taken into account the background of the significant need for new housing in London in particular when deciding to cancel the direction.

Boles claimed that the council had failed to deliver its housing targets over the period 2009 - 2013.

The authority disputed this, arguing that it had exceeded its overall housing target by 43% over this period.

“The DCLG has now accepted that it made 'a mistake of fact' by failing to take into account all the types of housing that the London Plan housing targets do,” Islington said.

Cllr James Murray, Islington's executive member for housing and development, said: "No-one would deny that London needs new homes. We are one of the top boroughs nationally for building new homes - we're actually building thousands of genuinely affordable homes for social rent.

"The government says its policy is about converting empty offices into homes. Yet in Islington, we can see the damaging effect this policy is having. We're losing jobs but getting lots of one-bed and bedsit flats, with no affordable housing or other community benefit.”

Cllr Murray added: "I am pleased Eric Pickles accepts his Department made a mistake, and I hope this means we can now have a proper discussion about how we can protect jobs and provide decent, affordable homes in Islington."