Article 4 Directions (A4Ds) are locally applied restrictions to national planning policy.

Article 4 Directions are a planning tool whereby Local Planning Authorities apply restrictions in order to achieve a local planning aim, such as the removal of national permitted development rights.  A4Ds are a permanent measure, but are only issued in exceptional circumstances.

A4Ds for pubs

For pubs, the need for A4Ds has largely been removed because of the changes to planning law that came into effect in May 2017, and also by the  Asset of Community Value (ACV) scheme, both of which remove the permitted development rights that previously existed for pubs.

Former Railway Tavern, Hackney