Potential breaches of planning control could include:
- Building or engineering operations without consent.
- A change of use of land or property.
- Non-compliance with conditions attached to planning permissions.
- Not building in accordance with the approved plans of planning permissions.
- Works to a listed building that needs but does not have permission.
- Advertisements or signs that need, but do not have, permission. You can find out more about whether permission is needed in the Government guide to advertisement control.
- Relevant demolition works in a conservation area.
- Works to trees that are protected. These are trees with a Tree Protection Order (TPO) or are in a conservation area. You can find out if a tree or woodland is protected or in a conservation area using our find my nearest interactive map.
- Land or buildings in such poor condition that it affects the character of the area.
- Breaches of Section 106 Agreements and Community Infrastructure Levy.
- The deposit of waste or mineral extraction that needs but does not have permission.
Matters which are not usually breaches of planning control:
- Some types of development, alterations, or changes of use do not need permission and are ‘permitted development’ or subject to a consent regime known as ‘prior approval’. You can get guidance on the types of changes that do not need permission on the Planning Portal. This includes internal works to a non-listed building provided they are not in breach of conditions and the use of buildings in the curtilage of a dwelling for incidental domestic use.
- A breach that has not yet occurred or has already ceased. We can only act when an alleged breach is happening or has happened.
- Temporary structures/fencing associated with building works.
- Parking of commercial vehicles on the highway or grass verges unless displaying an advertisement.
- Carrying out maintenance to pipes, sewers etc. by a council or statutory undertaker. This could be South West Water, or a contractor employed by them.
- Highway maintenance undertaken by the council.
Complaints relating to civil matters
You should seek independent legal advice or contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for help. These include:
- Issues relating to damage of property or (potential) injury to persons.
- Disputes between neighbours.
- Boundary or land ownership disputes or issues relating to trespass.
- Issues relating to party walls.
- Covenant disputes. A covenant is a restriction added to a deed or on the title to the land.
Complaints relating to other services
Development works can cause issues with noise, smells or light pollution. You can find out more about how the Council can help and report an issue on our ASB, environment and nuisance page.
If you need to tell us about a dangerous structure, you can find more information on our dangerous structures page.
The Planning Enforcement Team will normally not investigate complaints on council owned land or within Highway land. If you need to tell us about a problem with a highway, you can find more information and make a report on our highways page.
Illegal development
Customers often refer to ‘illegal development’ when reporting what they believe to be a breach of planning control. Unauthorised development is not a criminal offence.
There are exceptions which include:
- Unauthorised works to Listed Buildings and protected trees without consent.
- Relevant demolition.
- Advertisements displayed without consent.
- Non-compliance with formal notices.