Should HMOs be subject to planning permission?

Residents, landlords and businesses can have a say on proposals that would give the council greater control over where new Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) are located in Barwell and Earl Shilton.

Following the recent approval of an Article 4 Direction in Hinckley, the Borough Council committed to borough-wide monitoring to identify areas where HMO growth may be causing similar pressures. As a product of this, the council is launching a public consultation on a proposed Article 4 Direction in a defined area of Barwell and Earl Shilton.

An Article 4 Direction would mean that planning permission would be required before new HMOs can be created within a defined area of Barwell and Earl Shilton. The consultation runs until 2pm on Monday 6 July 2026, and everyone is encouraged to take part.

At present, small HMOs of up to six people can be created without planning permission under national permitted development rules. An Article 4 Direction does not ban HMOs and would not prevent development from coming forward. Instead, it removes the automatic right, allowing the Borough Council to consider each proposal on its individual merits and apply local planning policies when deciding applications.

National planning rules require Article 4 Directions to be evidence led and focused on specific areas, which is why the proposal applies to a defined part of the Barwell and Earl Shilton area rather than being boroughwide.

If introduced, the Direction would not be retrospective. Existing lawful HMOs would not be affected, and landlords would still be able to apply for planning permission for new HMOs. Licensing arrangements for HMOs would remain separate and unchanged.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Leader Stuart Bray said:

“It continues to be a growing frustration for councillors and officers that we have had very limited ability to influence where HMOs are located, despite strong community concerns. As a Borough Council, we listened to our residents and stakeholders about an Article 4 Direction in Hinckley. We want to continue to take a proactive and evidence-led approach, so we are asking for your views again about a similar proposal for a defined area covering Barwell and Earl Shilton. Article 4 Directions are all about having a say and assessing proposals properly, not stopping development. If approved, it would give us a way to look properly at each application, consider the local impacts and work towards a more balanced and sustainable spread of HMOs across Barwell and Earl Shilton. It is important to remember that HMOs are not just used as accommodation for asylum seekers. They are a vital part of the local housing mix for those taking their first step on the housing ladder, or who cannot secure other types of accommodation.”

People can take part in the consultation by completing the online survey or emailing the Planning Team by completing the Planning contact form, or by viewing the consultation documents in person at the Hinckley Hub, at Earl Shilton Library and at the George Ward Centre in Barwell during normal opening hours.