What is a breach of planning control
A breach of planning control could be where somebody develops a site without the planning permission they need or where they are not meeting the terms or conditions of an approved planning permission. Breaches of control can include:
- building or engineering works that take place without planning permission
- change to the use of a site without planning permission
- development that is not in accordance with the approved drawings on the planning permission
- unauthorised works to a listed building
- unauthorised advertisements
- unauthorised works to a tree which is protected by a tree preservation order or is in a conservation area
- unauthorised demolition of a building within a conservation area
- land which has become so untidy that it harms the amenity of the surrounding area.
Breaches of planning control are not offences, with the exception of the following which are criminal offences:
- unauthorised works to listed buildings
- display of unauthorised advertisements
- carrying out unauthorised works to protected trees.
The enforcement team will investigate situations where they suspect there is a breach of planning control.