Development Control and Enforcement

The Council seeks to ensure that any development or change of use within the Borough is carried out appropriately. There are occasions when there are breaches of planning control.

Where a written complaint is received (providing it is not anonymous) enforcement action investigation may be warranted. Complaints are treated in confidence and complainant's details will not be publicly available. In some cases the position may be rectified, either by a retrospective submission of a planning application or by negotiation. When a negotiated decision cannot be reached the Council can take action. The usual options are:

• to serve an 'Enforcement Notice' requiring that corrective action be taken within a specified period,
• or a 'Breach of Condition Notice' when development has not been in accordance with the permission,
• or a 'Waste Land Notice' requiring that steps be taken to tidy up a garden or area of land

Failure to comply can lead to prosecution. Landowners and occupiers have a right of Appeal against any Enforcement or Waste Land Notice issued by the Council.

A copy of our Guide to the Development Control Process is available as a pdf document.

For further information on how to make an appeal against an Enforcement Notice, see the Planning Inspectorate website.