Article 4 Direction

On 27 November 2025, during a High Court hearing and following his previous judgment, the judge (Justice Eyre) confirmed an order to quash Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet’s decision on 16 July 2024 to confirm the Article 4 Direction.

The Council submitted a written application to request permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal and the Rt. Hon Justice Lewisam refused the request on 6 February 2026.

As a result, as the 16 July 2024 decision is quashed, the Article 4 Direction is not in force within the Gwynedd Local Planning Authority Area.

 

What does this mean?

Following the quashing of the decision to confirm the Article 4 Direction, material changes of use that were restricted by the Article 4 Direction now have permitted development right. Therefore, it is not necessary to receive planning permission to undertake these material changes of use. The changes of use which now have permitted development rights can be examined within the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended).

The ruling to refuse the request to appeal brings the litigation process to an end. 

 

Further information

If you have a further question that has not been addressed above, please contact the Planning Service:

Contact the Planning Service 

(you will need to create an account if you don't already have one)