Article 4 Direction: Mud Walls in the Whittlesey Area

On 26 January 2026, Cabinet approved an Immediate Article 4 Direction for mud walls in the Whittlesey Area (comprising of the following wards Whittlesey East and Villages; Whittlesey Lattersey; Whittlesey North-West; and Whittlesey South ). This Direction came into effect on the 5 February 2026.

An Article 4 Direction is a planning control that removes certain permitted development rights. These are rights that normally allow some works to be carried out without the need to apply for planning permission.

This Direction means that planning permission is required for the demolition, removal, or alteration of a traditional mud wall, including boundary walls, where this may previously have been permitted development. 

Whittlesey's mud walls are a rare and distinctive feature of the town's historic environment. Many are not listed or otherwise formally protected and have been lost over time. The Article 4 Direction helps the Council manage change and prevent further unnecessary loss, while still allowing reasonable development where appropriate.