In Molesey, we have witnessed firsthand the transformation of a modest two-bedroom bungalow into a seven-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). With each room individually let to occupants, it brings about the potential of seven additional cars on already narrow, single-lane residential roads with minimal parking. This is just one example of the residential intensification threatening our neighbourhood's infrastructure.

The residents of East Molesey, West Molesey, and the surrounding Hampton Court area are growing increasingly concerned regarding the pace and nature of these developments. While we recognise the need to accommodate housing growth, it is paramount that these developments are strategically managed and that our vital infrastructure is safeguarded.

We urge the Elmbridge Borough Council to introduce an Article 4 Direction, accompanied by clear and supporting planning policies. Such measures are crucial to ensure that all future developments are subjected to thorough assessment, transparent review and are in alignment with the best interests of our community. This is not a call to halt development but a plea for responsible growth that respects our existing structures and social fabric.

Molesey is already contributing to the Borough’s housing needs through designated development sites. Yet, the unregulated intensification without a clear framework imposes additional pressures that our community is not equipped to handle.

We seek the Council's intervention to safeguard the future of our beloved neighbourhoods, ensuring that developments enhance, rather than detract from, the community's quality of life.

Join us in our quest for a balanced and well-planned approach to residential development in our area. Sign this petition to support the introduction of an Article 4 Direction for East Molesey, West Molesey, and the Hampton Court vicinity. Your signature is a powerful voice in advocating for sustainable and well-considered urban growth.

The Article 4 creates a Mandatory planning permission for all HMOs (including small HMOs up to 6 occupants)

The Article 4 Direction should remove permitted development rights so that any change of use to an HMO, including up to 6 occupants (Use Class C4), requires full planning permission.

This will ensure that proposals are properly assessed against local constraints such as parking capacity, waste management, infrastructure impact, and residential amenity.

At present, properties can be intensified and then transitioned into HMOs through licensing routes without full planning scrutiny. For example, a small residential property can be extended and occupied at higher density, and then formally classified as a 6-bedroom HMO under Use Class C4 without requiring a planning application.

This creates a clear gap in oversight, allowing significant intensification to take place without proper assessment of its impact on local infrastructure and surrounding residents.

Introducing an Article 4 Direction to require planning permission for all HMOs, including those up to 6 occupants, would ensure that these changes are transparent, policy-led, and subject to appropriate review.