Planning Practice Note:
Planning Enforcement Complaint Form
INTRODUCTION
South Shropshire District Council as Local Planning Authority (LPA) is committed to continuous improvement to its services through 'Best Value' initiatives.
This is one of a series of Best Value Practice Notes (BVPNs) intended to help provide the highest possible quality of service to applicants for planning permission and the general public.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRACTICE NOTE
The purpose of this Practice Note is to inform the public about how to make a planning enforcement complaint and to provide a form for doing so. All other complaints about Council services are dealt with under the general complaints procedures, details of which are available on request.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Planning enforcement is a complicated and often lengthy process. When making a complaint about a possible breach of planning control, you are asked to bear in mind the following points.
Planning Enforcement Policy
The Planning Enforcement Policy is available on the Council's website which gives full details of the role, function and procedures of Planning Enforcement.
In broad terms the types of complaint which can be investigated by Planning Enforcement relate to:
- unauthorised building works
- unauthorised change of use
- unauthorised works to listed buildings
- unauthorised adverts
- unauthorised works to trees in a conservation area or protected by a Tree Preservation Order.
Procedure
On receipt of a complaint the details will be registered and an acknowledgement letter sent. Complainant details are confidential.
The planning history of the site will be researched and a site visit will be carried out to establish the facts of the case. In the event that a breach of planning control has occurred the complainant will be advised but if there is no breach the file will be closed and if appropriate details referred to another department of the Council to investigate.
Once it has been established that a breach of planning control has occurred it will be necessary to determine whether a planning application to regularise the development can be invited or whether action needs to be taken to remedy the breach through negotiation with interested parties. In the event that negotiations fail it may be necessary to take formal enforcement action to rectify matters.
The complainant will be advised of the outcome of investigations before the case is closed.
Filling in the complaint form
Please do this carefully giving as much information as you can. Please be as accurate as you can and do not make statements which you cannot justify.
Send the completed form to:
The Head of Planning and Building Control
South Shropshire District Council
Stone House
Corve Street
LUDLOW
Shropshire
SY8 1DG
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Planning and Building Control. Last Updated: 6/3/2007.
