Planning Enforcement
Sometimes development is not carried out in line with Planning
Permission. In some instances, planning permission has not been
applied for. To deal with these problems the Planning Delivery
Services operates an enforcement service which employs two full
time enforcement officers and two part time enforcement officers
with the support of in-house legal advice. Every year the
Enforcement Team investigate over 650 complaints about possible
unauthorised developments. The complaints may be about new or
extended buildings, or about the way in which a property is being
used.
The Enforcement Team also investigate complaints about
unauthorised advertisements, unauthorised works to protected trees
and untidy land.
Planning Enforcement is a very complex area. This is because
the Town and Country Planning Acts seek to strike a balance between
the freedom of the owners to use or alter their property as they
wish, whilst at the same time safeguarding the amenities of their
neighbours and conserving historic buildings and areas.
Details on complaint investigation
and enforcement action are available
from this site.
Details on how to make a
complaint and frequently asked
questions are available from this site.
Online Enforcement Register -
"Public Access" for planning is an online internet service that
allows members of the public, councillors and other vested interest
groups to interact with the planning process at a time and place
that suits them.
For details of Enforcement Appeals received and for
information on the Planning Inspectorate and making an appeal,
please see Appeals.
The Planning Enforcement Strategy guide provides the Council's approach to Planning Enforcement.