Council Seeks Comments on Article 4 Direction
Move to change rules on turning office blocks into flats
Proposals have been made to switch former L'Oreal HQ on Hammersmith Road to residential use
January 13, 2025
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is asking local people for their opinions on an Article 4 Direction, which would impose restrictions on developers hoping to change business premises into homes.
At the moment, Permitted Development Rights allow certain types of building work or changes of use without the need for planning permission.
In April 2021 the Government amended these Permitted Development Rights to add a new category: change of use from Class E “business, commercial and service use” to residential.
Class E includes shops, restaurants, estate agents, offices, museums and indoor sports facilities.
Following this amendment, change of use from Class E to residential can be carried out without the need for planning permission. Only a simpler prior approval process is needed.
This issue is of particular concern in Hammersmith, where falling demand for office space has led to numerous applications for prior approval to turn office blocks into new homes.
Two recent examples are 255 Hammersmith Road, the building formerly used by beauty giant L’Oreal, which would be redeveloped to create 137 flats and Griffin House at 161 Hammersmith Road, where 86 flats would be created. This building is currently home to Virgin Media but due to become vacant in spring when the company moves to new headquarters in Paddington.
In both cases, H&F Council planners turned down the developers’ initial applications for prior approval, citing issues such as lack of natural light to some of the proposed flats. However, a new application has already been submitted for Griffin House, and a new application for 255 Hammersmith Road is anticipated this year.
The council is now proposing an Article 4 Direction which could change the current rules so that landowners seeking change of use from Class E to residential would need to make an application for full planning permission rather than using the prior approval process. Any proposals would then need to be considered against relevant planning policies.
This direction is a legal order which would remove Permitted Development Rights in 44 separate locations in the borough, including Hammersmith town centre, Brook Green, Barons Court and addresses along Hammersmith Road and King Street.
The council is now welcoming comments on this Article 4 Direction and the selected locations. Comments must be received by 5pm on Thursday January 23, 2025.
You can email your response to localplan@lbhf.gov.
The Direction and maps showing the locations where it would apply can be seen in full here.
The direction may also be viewed at the borough’s three libraries.
The council says when deciding whether or not to confirm the direction, it will take into consideration all comments received during the consultation. The direction is also subject to assessment by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
If it is confirmed, the direction will come into force on December 5, 2025.
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