Find out more about planning enforcement, how we deal with enforcement cases and how to report a breach of planning control.
We have a duty to investigate complaints about development that may have been carried out without permission or consent. The discretion of the local authority is applied to enforcement cases to ensure that unauthorised development is dealt with in a way that balances the protection of buildings, the environment and the amenity of neighbours whilst at the same time ensuring that owners enjoy reasonable use of their property. View the Strategy for the Monitoring and Enforcement of Planning Control
Planning permission is usually required for changes to the use of a building or land and altering or enlarging a building. Consent may also be required for the display of advertisements, works to a listed building and works to trees subject to a tree preservation order or within a conservation area. However, some alterations and extensions can be carried out without the need for a planning application under permitted development.
When a breach of planning control occurs the level of harm is assessed to determine if formal planning enforcement action is taken. Harm can be caused through several factors including:
It is considered inappropriate to take formal planning enforcement action against a breach of planning control which causes no harm to the local amenity. If a retrospective application is submitted to regularise a breach of planning control, planning enforcement action is put on hold until the retrospective planning application is determined. Where further information is required to determine the facts, we have a variety of investigative powers. These are described in our Strategy for the Monitoring and Enforcement of Planning Control.
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