Mansfield Council is considering an Article 4 Direction following a study that found it was the easiest place to get the go-ahead for an HMO.

The authority has approved funding to build the detailed evidence base required to support the potential introduction of controls on family home conversion which can take place without a planning application under permitted development rights.

Its HMO working group has identified concentrations of HMOs around Mansfield town centre and the inner urban area along with concerns including the loss of family housing, parking pressures, antisocial behaviour, waste, property conditions and the balance of local communities.

More detailed analysis aims to establish the strength of the case for an Article 4 Direction and identify where any controls could be most appropriately targeted. The work is expected to be published in the new year.

Decisions

PlanningLens’ analysis of HMO planning decisions across 14 councils during 2024/25 showed that Labour-controlled Mansfield rejected none of its 36 applications.

Executive mayor Andy Abrahams (pictured) says it has listened to residents who are concerned about the increasing number of HMOs and the effect that concentrations can have on family housing, parking and neighbourhoods.

“HMOs have an important role to play in providing affordable places to live, but we also need the right balance,” adds Abrahams. “We want Mansfield to have strong, sustainable communities with a good mix of homes for individuals and families.

“By approving this investment, we can now get the detailed evidence we need and move this work forward. If that evidence supports an Article 4 Direction, we will be in a much stronger position to consider targeted planning controls in the areas where they are needed.”

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