Our Planning Enforcement team investigates complaints of alleged breaches of planning control to determine if a breach has occurred and what action, if any, is required.
The Council has a Strategy for dealing with potential Enforcement cases which sets out the powers available to us to deal with breaches of planning control and at what point we will take action.
The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework makes it clear that councils are expected to act proportionately when responding to any breaches
Whilst it is not a criminal offence to carry out development without first obtaining planning permission, this is a contravention of planning laws and the District Council has powers to enforce those laws.
Breaches of planning control include:
- Unauthorised works to listed buildings
- Unauthorised works to trees with a tree preservation order (TPO) or in a Conservation Area
- Breaches of planning conditions
- Failure to comply with a s106 agreement
- Unauthorised development works and changes of use
- Removal of protected hedgerows
- Not building in accordance with the approved plans that form part of a planning permission
- Unauthorised engineering operations, such as creation of earth bunds
Issues not considered breaches include:
- Obstruction of a highway or public right of way
- Parking of vehicles on the highway or on grass verges
- Parking caravans on residential driveways
- Land ownership disputes or trespass issues
- Covenants imposed on property Deeds
You can help us deal with your issue as effectively as possible by providing us with as much information as you can. Please follow the guide to reporting below.
Have you checked if planning permission is required for the work taking place?
You can use the Planning Portal website or our Do I Need Planning Permission pages to check.
If planning permission is required:
Have you checked if the location of the work has approved planning permission?
If not, please check using the online planning register
If planning permission is not granted, or the work is not complying with that permission:
Is the issue regarding any of the following?
- Boundary or ownership disputes
- Party wall issues
- Covenant issues
If so, these are civil matters so please contact citizens advice or seek legal advice.
Report a breach to the Council
To report a breach complete the online form and a member of the team will be in touch with you.
You will need to provide your full details such as name, address and contact details to allow us to contact you to inform you of the progress of the investigation or to seek additional information from you. An anonymous complaint will not be investigated.
Anyone can submit a breach and all Planning Enforcement Complaints received are confidential.