The Council recognises that finding out that someone has reported an alleged development or activity on your property to the council can cause anxiety.
It's important that we make sure that people or companies who are the subject of the planning enforcement investigation are:
§ Treated fairly.
§ Given the opportunity as part of the investigation to explain the situation from their perspective.
If you have received a visit, email or letter from an Enforcement Officer explaining that a matter has been brought to our attention, please do not ignore the issue.
The law provides the council with a series of tools to enable us to carry out a full investigation. This means that the matter will not go away if you ignore the correspondence received about the issue which has been reported to the council.
Under Section 196A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Enforcement Officers have the right to access without notice to investigate a suspected breach of planning control on that land or adjoining land. Officers must give at least 24 hours’ notice to enter a dwellinghouse.
Failure to permit officers access to land is an offence. The council reserves the right to prosecute anyone who wilfully obstructs entry. If necessary, we will seek a warrant from the Courts to gain entry.
If you do not engage with the council from the outset to address the matter, you run the risk of the council taking formal enforcement action without further warning.
Please note that the information submitted to the council as part of the initial report is personal information. This means it is likely to be exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (as amended), or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.