What happens next?
Once comments from the public have been received by January 14, 2026, these will be carefully reviewed.
Public representations and any actions that arise will be presented to all Councillors by Spring 2026, who will then decide whether to confirm the Article 4 directions.
If the Article 4 directions are confirmed, and once they have come into effect, changes of use of a dwellinghouse to a HMO (including small ones) will require a planning application to be submitted to Dartford Borough Council (or Ebbsfleet Development Corporation).
This will be decided with consideration to The Dartford Plan (including policies M10 & S5 and others) and other material considerations.