Sometimes building work is not carried out in line with planning permission or permission has not been granted.

In considering appropriate action, the Council has to consider each case individually and negotiate to resolve the breach of planning control. 

If an unauthorised development exceeds the 'permitted development' allowance in the Permitted Development Order (1995 and as subsequently amended) will be an important consideration, when considering whether it is expedient to enforce. 

Report a suspected breach of planning control 

Report a breach of planning control to the planning enforcement team.

Sometimes building work is not carried out in line with planning permission or permission has not been granted.

You can report suspected breaches of planning permission to us which we will investigate.

We also provide a register (s188) where you can view what planning enforcement action has taken place.

Before you report you need to:

• check if planning permission has already been granted
• note down dates of when activities or building work started and how they are affecting you personally
• get the full address for the site where the development is taking place
• let us know your contact details in order for us to keep you informed
• know names and contact details of the owners or other people involved such as contractors, builders (if known)
• take photographs (if possible)

What we investigate:

• unauthorised building works
• unauthorised changes of use to a building or land
• unauthorised advertisements
• unauthorised works to Listed Buildings
• unauthorised traveller and roadside encampments
• untidy sites that are harmful to the amenity of the neighbourhood
• non-compliance with plans and conditions imposed on planning permissions
• hedgerow/tree removal

What we do not investigate

• neighbour boundary disputes
• property and land ownership issues
• breaches of covenants between landowners or trespass issues
• persistent complaints that we have previously investigated, and we consider have been resolved
• development that has been in situ for over 10 years, this is immune from enforcement action. 

What happens next?

A case will be logged and allocated to an officer to carry out the investigation. All complaints are treated sensitively and where possible confidentially, it may be difficult preserve confidentiality in every case, for example if we need to go to court we may ask you to give us further help. Also, we do not visit the complainant after we have visited the site in question, this is to avoid any neighbouring conflicts. 

Make a payment to the Planning Enforcement Team

Appeal payments and compliance fees can be made via this link. An appeal payment is when you are appealing under ground (a). Compliance payments are for a compliance visit and written confirmation of the visit. 

Pay a compliance fee or planning appeal fee