Planning Enforcement

The Council recognises the importance of establishing effective controls over unauthorised development in order:

• not to undermine Local Planning Policy;
• to ensure that changes to our environment are appropriate and sustainable; and
• to remedy the undesirable effects of such developments.

To ensure that we effectively achieve our enforcement goals, the Council has adopted a Policy for Investigating Unauthorised Development and the Enforcement of Planning Control. Our Planning Enforcement Policy indicates that the investigation of breaches of planning control will:

• ensure that the enquiry is registered, and that action will be taken speedily to initiate an investigation;
• assess each case to determine whether or not there has been a breach of control;
• look to invite an application where appropriate, or negotiate the voluntary rectification or removal of the breach;
• prepare a report to be taken to Planning Board (if necessary) if the breach has not been resolved by this point;
• ensure that the Board is fully aware of all of the aspects and considerations in the case such that it can take a decision on whether or not it is expedient to take formal action in the public interest; and
• pursue matters in the Courts, if appropriate, when the case requires resolution.

Our Planning Enforcement Policy explains:

• what planning enforcement is about;
• what the general standards of our service will be;
• what considerations the Council will take into account when operating this function; and
• what performance and monitoring criteria will be used.

Reporting a potential Breach of Planning Control

You can  write to the Planning Enforcement Team at the Council. Alternatively, you can report potential breaches at any time Monday to Friday by speaking to a Duty Officer (9am - 1pm) or member of the Planning Enforcement Team on 01827 715341. Please provide as much information as possible to locate the site, the details and nature of the breach, and (where possible) the person(s) responsible for the potential breach.

Whilst we prefer you provide your name and contact details so we may keep you informed of progress with the alleged breach, you are not required to do so. All such contact details remain confidential and are not released to the offending party.

Last updated Friday, 25th September 2015

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