Do the national planning policy and the new planning use classes C3, C5 and C6 empower planning authorities, whether or not they have decided to introduce Article 4 Instruction, to adopt general policy in their new local development plans to mean that the use of every new house is in class C3?
Where robust local evidence has identified impacts on the community arising from the prevalence of second homes and short‑term lets, planning authorities may consider co‑ordinated local planning approaches. This may include specifically identifying sites in local development plans for new homes which are limited in use to sole or main residences or local market housing (Class C3) and/or the introduction of area specific Article 4 directions which may require a planning application for a change of use of a sole or main residence to a second home or short‑term let. For the specific area to which such an Article 4 direction applies, restrictions by condition or obligation should be placed on all new homes limiting their use to sole or main residences.
Where they have the appropriate evidence, local planning authorities would be able to issue a direction using Article 4 of the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) to remove these permitted development rights and may require planning applications (where the local planning authority can show that a material change of use has occurred) for the specified change of use. In all other cases, changes of use would be permitted by the GPDO.