District council set to get tough on village HMOs
But new ruling will not come into force for 12 months
NORTH West Leicestershire District Council plans to get more strict on smaller houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) in Kegworth.
The authority has made the decision to make a non-immediate Article 4 Direction to the village of Kegworth, to withdraw permitted development rights for the change of use from dwelling houses (Use Class C3) to small HMOs (Use Class C4) where between three and six unrelated people share basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom.
The council says this will enable it to better manage the creation of HMOs and their impact on the well-being of the area.
The authority has made a non-immediate Article 4 direction meaning that it will not come into force for 12 months.
A council spokesperson said: “This period provides an opportunity for residents, landlords and other interested parties to respond to the consultation.
“It is our intention for the Article 4 direction to take effect on Friday, February 5, 2021, subject to any modifications arising from stakeholder engagement.
“It is only then that planning permission will be required for the change of use from dwelling houses (Use Class C3) to small HMO’s (Use Class C4).”
The authority recently refused plans to create an HMO in London Road in the village
North West Leicestershire District Council’s planning committee has turned down proposals for the change of use to an eight-bedroom, eight-person house of multiple occupation 25 London Road, Kegworth.
A six-week period to publicise the Article 4 Direction and to seek comments on the proposal will take place between now and Monday, March 30, 2020.
A copy of the Article 4 Direction, a map defining the area and associated documents can be found on the council website at https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/kegwortharticle4
Any comments received will be presented to a future meeting of the district council’s Cabinet, which will then decide whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction.
Residents can respond using the district council’s online response form or you can complete a MS Word version of the form. Details of both can be found on the above webpage.
Completed forms can be returned to either planning.policy@nwleicestershire.or via post to: Planning Policy, North West Leicestershire District Council Offices, Whitwick Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FJ.
Completed consultation response forms should be returned by the end of Monday, March 30.
The spokesperson added: “You can use the consultation as an opportunity to share your views on the Article 4 Direction, and advise whether you support or object to the proposal and the reasons why.
“You also have the opportunity to make comments on whether you consider the area proposed to be covered by the Article 4 Direction, to be appropriate. We welcome your thoughts and will consider all responses. Any comments received to the consultation will be presented to a future meeting of the district council’s Cabinet who will decide whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction.
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Please be advised that all comments received to the consultation will be publically available and may be identifiable by name/organisation and cannot be treated as confidential. Other details, including address and signature will not be publically identifiable.”