What is planning enforcement?

Planning enforcement is a process to investigate cases where development without planning permission is taking place, and to ensure that development with planning permission takes place in accordance with the approved plans and planning conditions.

It's recognised that public confidence in the planning system would be quickly undermined if development is not monitored or unauthorised development proceeds without intervention by the local planning authority. So effective enforcement is important to maintain public confidence.

Whilst the investigation of an enquiry is mandatory, the powers available to the council are discretionary and the council will consider enforcement action in the public interest, having regard to the risk and planning harm arising from the alleged breach.

The council’s focus will be on those cases where the impacts or planning harm arising is significant.

The main purpose of planning enforcement is to resolve the problem rather than to punish the person who has not obtained the appropriate consents.