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Article 4 Direction

Gloucester currently has two Article 4 directions, at St Michael's Square and Southgate Street Conservation Area.

 

St Michael’s Square

Much of the special interest of St Michael's Square lies in its strong independent character and unity of appearance. In order to prevent harmful changes, and following a public consultation exercise undertaken during April and May 2004, the City Council has taken steps to secure an Article 4 direction.

  • The Secretary of State authorised the direction, which came into force on 22 May 2006. It means that planning consent will be required for the following items of work.
  • The enlargement, improvement or other alteration to the house. This includes changing windows and doors.
  • Any alteration to the roof. This includes the provision of roof lights and dormer windows and the substitution of clay tiles and natural slates with concrete or other materials.
  • The erection or construction of a porch outside any external door.
  • The provision of a hard surface, for example to provide a car park in the front garden.
  • The installation, alteration or removal of a chimney in the house.
  • The erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.
  • The painting of previously unpainted external stonework or brickwork of any part of the house, including gate piers, boundary walls and other means of enclosure. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not include the routine repainting of external joinery in the same colour.(*1)

The demolition in whole or in part of any gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.
(*1) - The City Council also recognises that the unity of appearance of the Square can be strengthened and made more attractive by the careful use of paint. To that end it has sought specialist advice on a palette of traditional paint colours.

The Council recognises that the colour palette should offer a measure of individual choice while at the same time ensuring that individual colours are coherent and sympathetic to the age and architectural quality of the Square. The approved colour palette is set out below:

Windows, door frames and porch work

Light stone (3428Y11R)*
Buff (1615Y30R)

Front doors, other external woodwork and metalwork

Deep brunswick green (7514G20Y)
Deep bronze green (7608G60Y)
Deep indian red (7020Y94R)
Purple brown (8110Y90R)

References in brackets relate to the Natural Colour System (NCS)

Which properties are affected by the St Michael’s Square Article 4 direction?

All dwellings in St Michaels Square which have not been converted into flats, including numbers 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 Brunswick Road. In the case of dwellings converted into flats, and buildings in office or commercial use, owners are already required to apply for planning permission before carrying out such work. The city council will use its planning powers to control and avoid harmful changes to these properties. You can download a map identifying the affected properties (PDF, 72.3 KB).

The direction will only apply to those parts of the building which front a highway or open space. If you are in any doubt please contact the City Council's Conservation Team.

 

Southgate Street Conservation Area

The character of the Southgate Street Conservation Area is that of predominantly residential development, mostly 19th century, alongside the old southern approach road from Bristol to Gloucester’s Southgate, with a number of significant commercial properties interspersed. While there are few single dwelling houses in the area, it is recognised that those key elements that define the character of the area require protection, including traditional windows, doors, and railings. Following the initial serving of the notice and consultation period, the Article 4 Direction was confirmed in January 2014.

The Article 4 Direction removes the following permitted development rights on certain properties:

  • The enlargement, improvement or other alteration to the house. This includes changing windows and doors.
  • Any alteration to the roof. This includes the provision of roof lights and dormer windows and the substitution of clay tiles and natural slates with concrete or other materials.
  • The erection or construction of a porch outside any external door.
  • The provision of a hard surface, for example to provide a car park in the front garden.
  • The erection, construction, maintenance, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.
  • The painting of previously unpainted external stonework or brickwork of any part of the house, including gate piers, boundary walls and other means of enclosure.
  • The demolition in whole or in part of any gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure.

Which properties are affected by the Southgate Street Conservation Area Article 4 direction?

The following properties are subject to this Article 4 Direction: 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 Albion Street; 2, 4 and 6 Somerset Place; 224 and 226 Southgate Street; 35, 37 and 39 Stroud Road.

In the case of dwellings converted into flats, and buildings in office or commercial use, owners are already required to apply for planning permission before carrying out such work. The city council will use its planning powers to control and avoid harmful changes to these properties. You can download a map identifying the affected properties (PDF, 53.7 KB).

The direction will only apply to those parts of the building which front a highway or open space. If you are in any doubt please contact the city council's Conservation Team.