Reporting a planning breach

If you think there has been a breach of planning permission you can report it to us using our online form. 

Report a breach of planning permission

To complete this form you will need to tell us:

  • your name, address and contact details
  • your email address
  • the full address or location of the site where the breach is taking place
  • as much information as possible about the nature of the potential breach
  • any harm that the potential breach is causing
  • any times, dates or other relevant information
  • the name of the person causing the breach if you know it
  • the status of the person causing the breach such as owner, tenant, occupier, contractor, worker
  • the date when activities first began and if they are on-going
  • the previous use of the site if the enquiry relates to a change of use
  • whether you have any legal interest in the land or property
  • whether you are in a dispute or have ever been in a dispute with the occupier of the land or property
  • how the potential breach is affecting you

We do not investigate:

  • anonymous reports of planning breaches
  • reports of planning breaches that you only make by phone
  • reports of planning breaches where non-planning concerns are motivating the enquiry
  • reports that do not relate to planning matters

We will not disclose your personal details to anyone involved with an investigation. We may share your details with other our departments or with the police if they ask us to.

If there is an enforcement appeal, we may give your name and address to:

  • the Planning Inspectorate
  • the appellant

Once we receive your report we will carry out a desktop assessment. We will not proceed with the investigation if:

  • the breach is minor in nature
  • the breach lacks any planning harm
  • we have investigated and resolved the breach

If we create a case for investigation we will carry out an initial site visit within 20 working days. We will visit the site sooner if the matter is urgent. This includes irreparable damage to listed buildings or unlawful works to protected trees.

We follow an approved investigative practice and have produced an Enforcement Plan. This provides an explanation of how the planning enforcement process operates.

We will tell you the final outcome of our investigation. If our investgation carries on for a longer period of time, we will keep you up to date at the key stages.

 

Planning Enforcement

Address: Causeway House
Bocking End
Braintree
Essex
CM7 9HB

Telephone: 01376 552525