The Government has announced a consultation on the potential to introduce a new planning class C5, with a permitted development right to swap between standard residential use C3 and the new C5.This will give planning authorities control by using article 4 directions to prevent C5 use.

Proposed wording for Use Class C5
“Use of a dwellinghouse that is not a sole or main residence for temporary sleeping accommodation for the purpose of holiday, leisure, recreation, business or other travel.”

This is a potential huge change for serviced accommodation operators.

The consultation can be seen here; note that it closes 7 June 2023.

This is in addition to the Consultation on a registration scheme for short-term lets in England, which also closes 7 June 2023.