Agenda

This meeting can be watched as a live stream, or at a later date, via the SKDC Public-I Channel

The public open forum will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.

This Council notes:

1.    Small HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) of 3-4 occupants can be established without planning permission under permitted development rights, with no requirement for community consultation.

2.    In December 2025 across SKDC, Serco managed 45 properties for resettlement purposes. providing 194 bedspaces.

3.    By March 2026 that figure had risen to 69 HMOs providing 301 bedspaces. Of those 69 properties, only 3 are occupied by families.

4.    The rate of increase of 55%, 107 new bedspaces in four months, represents a significant and accelerating pressure on South Kesteven’s housing stock and communities.

5.    Many councils have successfully introduced HMO regulation through Article 4 Directions in areas of intensive HMO properties.

6.    Current permitted development rights mean residents have no right to be consulted on, or informed of, HMO conversions in their street.

This Council believes:

1.    The current rate of HMO growth in Grantham is unsustainable and demands immediate action.

2.    Residents have a right to be consulted on developments that affect the character of their neighbourhood.

3.    An Article 4 Direction is a well-established, proportionate planning tool that gives communities a proper voice while ensuring legitimate housing needs continue to be met.

4.    Our Council has blocked this measure on two separate occasions, in October and November 2025, which has allowed the situation to worsen. This Council cannot allow further delay.

This Council resolves:

1.    To instruct officers to gather evidence to establish whether there are sufficient grounds to justify the implementation of an immediate Article 4 Direction to restrict the permitted development rights to change the use of dwellinghouses (use class C3) to small HMO’s (use class C4) pursuant to the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 in respect of a 2km radius centred from the Grantham Market Cross and to bring a report setting out their recommendations to the ordinary meeting of Full Council due to be held in September 2026 (or an earlier ordinary meeting of Full Council, if feasible), for debate and decision.