Enforcement Action

Enforcement action can range from;

to take no further action,
to ask the landowner informally to remedy the problem,
to invite the submission of a retrospective planning application,
to serve an enforcement notice (EN’s)
to serve a stop notice (when action is urgently required: very rarely served),
to prosecute in the Magistrates Court (only after EN’s are confirmed)
to serve a legal injunction
to enter the land and remedy the breach, charging the landowner accordingly.

The latter two options are very rarely used and only in the most serious of circumstances.

Throughout this process and within the limitations of the fact that enforcement action can be a process that can last many months, all relevant parties will be kept informed of forthcoming action.

Complainants will have their complaint acknowledged within three working days, and will thereafter be advised of what action is to be taken if this is possible. They will also be advised of the final decision. This communication will be in confidence.

The Council would ask complainants not to enter into additional detailed correspondence if it can be avoided as this diverts limited staff resources from other investigations.

Go to the Legal Action Stage

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