During the COVID 19 pandemic we may not be fully investigating matters where significant harm cannot be demonstrated.  The Government have introduced new  legislation to allow certain temporary changes of use to take-aways.  We will also take a pragmatic approach to some developments which are undertaken purely to cope with the impact of COVID 19.  We will inform you of our intended course of action when triaging your complaint which is at step 2 of the process as set out in our planning enforcement flowchart.

Please be aware that there will be some delays in our response times which is unavoidable at the moment.  We are experiencing an increase in Covid-related staff absence and many of our staff are working hard to balance work and home schooling.  The Council is committed to supporting our staff to work flexibly to enable a balance to be reached which means our officers may be working different hours.

Please bear with us at this difficult time.  We are mindful of the personal pressures that a third lockdown places on us all and we respectfully ask that you are considerate when communicating with our staff.

Planning enforcement is the process where we investigate and try to resolve breaches of planning control. If left unchallenged such breaches can undermine the whole planning process. It is therefore very important that effective enforcement is applied where it is needed.

The planning enforcement team receive around 2400 requests for service each year which officers are obliged to investigate. Approximately 50% of these cases are determined to be lawfully permitted developments that do not require planning permission.  In these cases the Council cannot take action.  It is therefore imperative that before you report an issue of concern that you are aware of what the Council can and cannot help you with.  

Please read these webpages in full before submitting a complaint.

What we will not investigate

• Dangerous Buildings/Structures – contact Building Control
• Matters affecting Public Highways – contact Transport and Streets
• Noise disturbance and pollution - contact Environmental Protection

What we will investigate

• Building/engineering work carried out without the correct permission  
• Unauthorised land use
• Planning conditions not being complied with
• Unauthorised changes in the use of land or buildings
• Works being carried out to a listed building without permission
• Unauthorised demolition on a conservation area
• Unauthorised works to a protected tree
• Unauthorised siting and use of a caravan
• Land or buildings which have been neglected or are an eyesore