The CLA today (11 July) welcomed the decision to abolish the London Borough of Islington’s Article 4 Direction – preventing the conversion of offices into homes – which contradicted Government plans to liberalise the planning rules.
The organisation urged the Government to replicate this decision when considering an Article 4 Direction imposed by the Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority (YDNPA) which also undermines the liberalisation of planning rules as well as hindering rural economic growth – a key Defra objective.
CLA President Henry Robinson said: “Opportunities for new businesses and jobs are needed in National Parks just as they are in the rest of the country. The use of permitted development rights to change the use of farm buildings to commercial use provide these.
“The decision to cancel the Article 4 Direction in Islington reflected the need for housing in the area. The specific needs of communities in rural areas and National Parks must also be considered.
“Upholding a blanket ban on permitted development rights will inevitably encourage more applications for Directions to be imposed, creating a planning U-turn and harming the rural economy.”
The CLA said the YDNPA had failed to provide sufficient justification for imposing the blanket ban.
Mr Robinson added: “There appears to be no proper justification for preventing National Park communities from enjoying the benefits of job opportunities and business expansion in the future.
“Preserving National Parks in aspic does not support long-term sustainability, but instead condemns communities and the businesses within them to long term decline.”.
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