Report a suspected breach of planning control

To report an alleged breach of planning control, please fill in the online form, supply the following information and we’ll do the rest.

You should provide:

• clear details of what is causing you concern
• details of the location and address of the land or property
• your name, address and email address so we can contact you about the investigation
• details of the landowner or developer’s name and address, if known.

Please note we do not act on anonymous complaints unless we consider that the cause of the complaint could cause serious health and safety problems.

Your details are confidential. This is a requirement of the Local Government Act 1972, which protects informant’s details. However, if the matter proceeds to an appeal, or when prosecution procedures are initiated, the complainant’s evidence may be required.

When assessing possible breaches of planning control, we have to find a balance between the rights of the developer, user, or owner of the land or buildings, and the wider public interest.

We must make a judgement in each case about the extent of how a development harms:

• amenities of nearby residents
• the special qualities of the landscape and buildings in the area

If you raise a concern about planning control breaches, we will:

• treat all complaints as confidential
• acknowledge your complaint
• prioritise your complaint
• let you know when formal action is to be taken
• inform you when and why a case is closed

To deal with any planning control enforcement, we will:

• check the planning register to make sure that planning permission has not been granted for the development and that it is not a permitted development
• establish the facts
• make a site visit and, if necessary, hold discussions with the owner and/or complainant
• we may also serve a Planning Contravention Notice (PCN), which requires the developer to provide further information to the authority
• try to get a full picture of the situation by investigating the planning history of the site, photographs and information from other agencies
• pass on any relevant information to other agencies such as the Highway Authority or Environment Agency who may have an interest in the case
• decide on an appropriate course of action

If we establish there has been no breach of planning we will advise you.

We cannot guarantee a timescale as it is not always possible to anticipate how a case will develop.

High priority

These are the most serious cases and those which cause immediate and potentially irreparable harm to the locality. They may involve immediate issue of formal notices, for example, for the serious and unsympathetic alteration to, or demolition of, a listed building, building works or uses that cause serious harm to local residents due to noise and disturbance at unsociable hours, or increased traffic danger and nuisance.

High priority complaints will be given immediate attention, with a site visit conducted within five working days. Where necessary, staff from other disciplines such as Environmental Health and Building Control will be called upon to attend on site to help assess the extent of any harm.

Stop Notices and Injunctions may be considered and failure to comply could result in prosecution, possible fine and imprisonment of offenders.

Medium priority

These are developments which cause some demonstrable harm to the locality, but immediate remedial action is not considered necessary, for example, large domestic extensions, use of agricultural buildings or dwellings for business purposes, or certain breaches of planning conditions relating to building operations or tree protection on construction sites.

A site visit will be conducted within 14 days and a solution will normally be sought through contact and negotiation with the parties responsible, within 10 working days of the complaint being first received. Retrospective applications will be sought where appropriate but it may be necessary to resort to Temporary Stop, Enforcement, Planning Contravention or Breach of Condition Notices.

Failure to comply with any of these Notices may result in criminal prosecution and possible fines.

Low priority

These are developments which are either minor planning infringements that cause little or no harm to the locality or nuisance to nearby local residents, for example, the erection of fences or outbuildings within domestic gardens that are marginally above permitted development tolerances or minor variations from approved plans. These will be investigated within 21 working days or as soon as other work permits. Again solutions will be sought wherever possible by inviting a retrospective planning application or appropriate negotiation.

No action required

These are concerns or complaints received which do not fall into the development management sphere.