Reporting a breach

What is a breach?

A breach of planning control is defined as:

• the carrying out of development without the required planning
• permission failing to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted

It could include but is not limited to:

• any contravention of the limitations on, or conditions associated with, permitted development rights
• unauthorised works to a listed building which affect the building’s special architectural or historic interest, or failure to comply with conditions attached to a listed building consent
• advertisements displayed without the benefit of express consent or non-compliance with the standard advertisement conditions.
• unauthorised works to trees the subject of Tree Preservation Orders, trees within a conservation area and works to trees in breach of a planning condition
• untidy land or buildings
• failure to comply with a planning notice or legal agreement attached to a planning permission
• failure to comply with a planning notice or legal agreement attached to a planning permission

How to report a breach

You can report breaches of planning control either by completing the Planning Enforcement form and sending it to the Planning Enforcement Team . We will acknowledge within three working days of receipt and will give you the name of the case officer of the case officer and how the alleged breach will be assessed and managed.

When can formal enforcement action be taken?

Once we are satisfied that a breach of planning control has occurred, we will attempt to resolve the matter informally through negotiation with the parties involved.

If the negotiation do not resolve the matter, we must decide whether formal enforcement action is 'expedient'. Enforcement action is discretionary and all the relevant planning circumstances of the breach must be considered before a decision can be made as to whether enforcement action should be taken.