Planning enforcement
If you think someone is carrying out work without planning permission, listed building consent, advertisement consent or works to trees with a protection order or in a conservation area, report it using the form. Please note that anonymous complaints will not be dealt with.
Is the work unauthorised?
Prior to reporting the case to enforcement it may be worth considering:
- Is there a breach in planning control?
- Did it need planning permission or another type of consent? (look at the planning portal as a guide)
- Does it already have planning permission or any other relevant consent? If so, is it in accordance with the planning consent? (check our online planning register for information on individual applications)
What enforcement can and can't look into?
Enforcement looks into breaches in planning control, this includes:
- External building works
- Demolition (please note not all demolition requires consent)
- Material changes of use (for example the change of use from residential to retail)
- Alterations (both internal and external) to listed building
- Advertisement signs and hoardings
- Works to trees subject to preservation orders or in Conservation Areas
- Hedgerow removal
- Failure to comply with conditions on any permission
Enforcement cannot look into neighbour or boundary disputes or civil matters (e.g. covenants on your title deeds).
Please report any enforcement matters by completing the form which will automatically be sent.
In some cases urgent action may be required, for example where works are actually taking place that could lead to:
- Works of demolition or significant alteration to a listed building.
- Works to or felling of trees subject to a Tree Protection Order or in a Conservation Area.
- Development or breaches of a condition causing damage to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)*
- Works in contravention of an extant Stop Notice or Temporary Stop Notice
In this case please phone 01453 754209 or 01453 754227.
The Council's policy on enforcement is available for you to view below.
We will endeavour to meet every complaint as soon as we can. As a guide, please see the below categories for each type of complaint and the time scales we adhere by:
Category A: Site visit on the same day as complaint being registered.
- Works of demolition or significant alteration to a listed building.
- Works to or felling of trees subject to a Tree Protection Order or in a Conservation Area.
- Development or breaches of a condition causing damage to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)*
- Works in contravention of an extant Stop Notice or Temporary Stop Notice
Category B: Site visit within 10 working days of complaint as complaint being registered.
- Other works to a listed building.
- Building and engineering operations.
- Changes of use.
- Compliance with conditions.
- Where immunity from enforcement action due to the lapse of time is imminent.
Category C: Site visit within 15 working days of complaint being registered.
- Minor domestic building works.
- Condition of land.
- Advertisements.
Category D:
- Technical breaches of planning control without adverse impacts
- Acceptable development/works without the necessary consents
* Planning enforcement can only have regard to the development. Harm to wildlife and protected species is a police matter
Register of notices
Right of appeal
When and how you can appeal.
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High hedges
A hedge can also be an ideal garden boundary that if well maintained lasts a long time and can bring wildlife and colour to a garden. However issues with neighbours can arise when hedges are not maintained.