Planning changes to control the change of use of buildings from commercial, business and service to residential within Bexley's town centres came into force today 10 December 2025.

The changes have been introduced in response to growing local concerns about an increasing number of shops and other commercial buildings in town centres in the Borough being converted to residential dwellings under permitted development rights.

The Council took the decision to introduce a non-immediate Article 4 Direction that will bring this type of development into planning control so that they will be able to assess and determine the appropriateness of any proposed changes to residential use.

This does not mean that this type of development is unacceptable, it just means that a planning application will be required so that the Council can consider all relevant implications and impose appropriate conditions as needed.

Bexley’s Cabinet Member for Place Shaping, Councillor Munur said:

We want to make sure we secure good growth for the borough. This planning change will provide us with the additional controls we need to ensure that the right balance is struck between protecting local jobs and meeting housing needs.”

The introduction of the Non-Immediate Article 4 Direction follows a statutory public consultation that ran for a 13-week period between 6 November 2024 and 5 February 2025.

Find out more at Article 4 Directions