This section advises on how you can help the council's planning enforcement team to protect the character of North Lincolnshire.
The success of enforcement action can often depend upon your help. We would like to point out at this stage that we cannot continually monitor sites. Therefore we rely upon the public, parish councils, residents’ associations, and amenity societies to report breaches of planning control.
Throughout the enforcement process, your knowledge of a site can supplement that held on council records.
How to complain about an alleged breach
When notifying us of a possible breach, it is important to provide as much information as possible together with photographs where appropriate. This information should include:
- The date on which the activity/building work commenced.
- The exact address of the site complained about. As well as the location of the activity/building upon the land. (A sketch plan is often helpful)
- Details of the alleged contravenor.
- Details of the nature of the activity. Including number of vehicular movements. Along with registration numbers.
- Details of the effect that the alleged breach is having upon your amenities. For example noise, traffic, smells, overshadowing, out of character with the area.
You must also provide your full details - name, address and home phone number. This is so we can contact you to inform you of the progress of the investigation. Or to enable us to seek additional information from you.
Your complaint can be submitted in writing and sent to:
The Planning Enforcement team
North Lincolnshire Council
Church Square House
PO Box 42
DN15 6XQ
Alternatively you can use our online report an alleged planning breach form to submit your complaint.
We will not investigate an anonymous complaint unless we consider the subject of the complaint to merit urgent attention. Such as a potential threat to a listed building or protected trees.
Please note: Our enforcement files are confidential. However if formal action is taken it may not be possible for us to keep your complaint confidential.
We will notify you if an appeal is lodged against an enforcement notice or other notice. And also if we receive a planning application. We will ask if you wish to submit additional information or appear at an inquiry/hearing to support the council’s case.
The strength of local support can be crucial to the council’s case. However you should be aware that at this point any representations you make will become available for public inspection, including inspection by the site owner, appellant and any legal representatives.
How quickly will my complaint be investigated?
We take all allegations of possible breaches of planning control seriously. We will investigate complaints as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
If we consider the breach to be more serious we will investigate it immediately. Such as a potential threat to a listed building or protected trees.
Subject to the availability of staff, and the priority given to all other cases we will try to undertake an initial site investigation within 10 working days.
Contact information
If you wish to telephone and enquire as to how your complaint is progressing please contact your Planning Enforcement officer.
More information
To find out what is considered a breach of planning please go to our what is a breach of planning control page.
To find out what happens when we have recieved your complaint go to our taking action over planning breaches.