How does the council deal with alleged breaches?

Once we receive a completed form a member of the team will triage the report, and determine if the matter is a planning breach, reviewing if this is ‘development’, if not, the matter will be referred to other departments or organisations, as necessary and we will not investigate any further.

We aim to register valid cases within five working days.

Upon registration of a case, we inform the following interested parties:

  • The local member
  • The relevant town or parish council
  • The complainant(s)

A dedicated officer will then be assigned. Planning Enforcement Officers will carry out their duties in an equitable and consistent manner. 

It is not a criminal offence to do something without planning permission. Officers are not empowered to physically stop unauthorised works. 

Full consideration is given to the circumstances of the case, guided by the adopted development plan and other material planning considerations.

Whilst planning enforcement is a lengthy process and the council aims to notify complainants of the stage at which the complaint is at within 12 weeks. This can include: 

• No action due to there being no breach and/or no significant harm, or it being a permitted development
• Further investigation is needed
• Retrospective planning application invited
• A breach established but not yet resolved, this can include negotiating solutions and/or proceeding to formal action

Complainants should be aware that unfortunately due to the often complex nature of planning enforcement which can involve legal challenges and appeals against statutory enforcement notices, some cases can take several months/years to fully resolve and it is impossible to give a specified time period that cases will be resolved within.

If formal action is instigated, complainants will be notified. Otherwise, when cases are finally resolved, complainants will be notified of the outcome of investigations, including a brief summary of the case.