We can deal with any alleged breach of planning control, including:
- building work
- material changes of use
- display of advertisements
- work to protected trees
- work carried out on listed buildings
Planning laws work on a permissive system and a consent system, and a lot of building work can be carried out without the need for planning permission. This is called permitted development.
A breach happens when planning permission has not been gained before the development is built, or the development has exceeded its limitations so can no longer be considered to be permitted.
This is not criminal in itself and formal enforcement is discretionary. Action will normally only be taken where a breach is considered unacceptable and harmful to the public, or taking action is in the wider public interest.
You can read our enforcement plan in our policies and procedures directory.