Enforcement -Doing Work Without Permission
7. The investigation process
When we receive your complaint, we will:
1. Ascertain if it is considered as an enforcement complaint. If it qualifies as a valid enforcement complaint it will be registered and assigned a priority status then it will be allocated to an Enforcement Officer. Written acknowledgement including the case reference number will follow on the same day for highest priority complaints, and within 5 working days for all other cases.
In view of the significant numbers of complaints that are received each year (circa 300), and to ensure efficient use of Council resources, each complaint received will be priority assessed before logging. This approach ensures that those breaches of planning control that are causing the greatest public harm are acted upon as quickly as possible. There are three enforcement priorities and associated timescales as set out on pages 6-11 of the enforcement plan please see the plan on the following link: Local Enforcement Plan October 2025 (PDF, 249 KB)
If your complaint is not something we can deal with you will be informed of this following the Initial Site Assessment (2, 15 or 30 working days depending on the priority)
2. Assess whether a breach has occurred, which typically involves:
Review allegation made
Further information gathering - including Council departments if required
Assess whether allegation is a planning matter
Checking the planning history
Checking permitted development rights
Assess whether there has been a breach of planning
Contacting the landowner
Visiting the site if necessary
Discussing how any identified breach might be resolved
3. Significant developments in a case may include:
The submission of a retrospective planning application
The determination of a retrospective planning application
Formal Notice Served
Case Closed
4. How can I keep track on progress on my complaint?
Following the initial site assessment, should investigations continue and the case remains open, the best method of receiving an update on progress is to contact the Enforcement Team via email on- [email protected]
