Protected properties
Article 4 Directions
The short answer
An Article 4 direction removes specific permitted development rights in a defined area. Where one covers windows or doors, you'll usually need planning permission for changes you could otherwise make — but it doesn't mean the change will be refused.
Last reviewed September 2026 · General guidance, not legal advice
What an Article 4 direction does
Councils make Article 4 directions under the General Permitted Development Order 2015. Each one lists the particular rights it removes — for example changes to front windows, doors or roofs — and the area it covers.
Not every conservation area has one
Many conservation areas have no Article 4 direction at all. Where one exists, it may cover only some streets or only front elevations.
How to find out
Councils publish Article 4 directions, usually alongside conservation area information. Ask the planning department if you can't find it.