Article 4 Direction: Small Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in Wisbech

On 24 February 2025, Full Council approved an Immediate Article 4 Direction for central Wisbech (comprising of the following wards Wisbech Riverside and Wisbech South) and a Non-Immediate Article 4 Direction for wider Wisbech (comprising of the following wards Wisbech North; Wisbech Walsoken and Waterless; and Leverington and Wisbech Rural).

These Article 4 Directions remove permitted development rights, requiring property owners to obtain planning permission before converting a dwelling into a small House of Multiple Occupancy (HMO) and vice versa.

The direction only applies to the conversion of 'small HMOs', which have been between three and six unrelated occupiers. 'Large HMOs', which are occupied by more than six unrelated occupiers, were already subject to planning permission.

Following public consultation on 20 August 2025 the Immediate Article 4 Direction for central Wisbech was confirmed.

The Non-Immediate Article 4 Direction for wider Wisbech is due to be confirmed in February 2026.

Immediate Article 4 Direction

• Immediate Article 4 Direction (PDF, 2 MB)
• Immediate Article 4 Direction Map (PDF, 2 MB)

Non-immediate Article 4 Direction

• Non-Immediate Article 4 Direction (PDF, 2 MB)
• Non-immediate Article 4 Direction Map (PDF, 2 MB)

Full Council Paper and Officer Decision Form

• Full Council Paper: Article 4 Direction (PDF, 1 MB)
• Officer Decision: Immediate Article 4 Direction: C3 to HMO conversions in central Wisbech (PDF, 76 KB)

Supporting Documents

• Article 4 Directions: HMO in Wisbech FAQs
• Technical Evidence Paper - Houses of Multiple Occupation in Wisbech (PDF, 1 MB)
• Interim Guidance Note - Small HMOs Article 4 Direction (PDF, 80 KB)
• Report of Consultation
• EIA