Our Planning Enforcement team investigates complaints of alleged breaches of planning control to determine if a breach has occurred and what action, if any, is required.
The Council has a Strategy for dealing with potential Enforcement cases which sets out the powers available to us to deal with breaches of planning control and at what point we will take action.
The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework makes it clear that councils are expected to act proportionately when responding to any breaches
Whilst it is not a criminal offence to carry out development without first obtaining planning permission, this is a contravention of planning laws and the District Council has powers to enforce those laws.