What is or isn't a planning breach?

What is a Planning Enforcement Complaint or a Breach of Planning Control?

A breach of planning control could include the following:

• Changes of use of land or buildings; e.g. from a house to a shop
• The erection of buildings without permission
• Building works which are different from what is shown on an approved plan
• Not complying with conditions of a planning permission
• Carrying out works to a listed building without listed building consent
• Displaying signs or advertisements without consent.

What is not a Planning Enforcement Complaint or a Breach of Planning Control?

The following are examples of activities, which are not breaches of planning control. The council would not be able to investigate:

• Parking of commercial vehicles, vans, lorries etc on the highway in residential areas or on grass verges
• Running a business from home where the house remains the main use and there is no adverse impact on residential amenity
• Parking a caravan within the residential boundary of a property, provided that it is ancillary to the dwelling i.e. it is stored or used as an extra bedroom
• Land ownership or boundary disputes