If you think someone may be in breach of planning controls, you can e-mail us using the downloadable form below.  Alternatively you can telephone or write to us.  We need the following information:

• your name, address, telephone number/e-mail address
• precise description of the suspected breach and address. Please give as much information as you can as this will assist our investigation
• what are your concerns? It is important that you tell us the nature of your concerns, even if you are unsure whether they are planning related
• what action would you like us to take? You may wish to see nothing other than the complete removal of the development/activity. However, if there are lesser steps which would overcome your concerns please tell us

In some cases we may need to come back to you for further information or to view the breach from your property.

If your complaint is not planning related we will forward it to the relevant Council service or tell you who to contact.

Anonymous complaints

We accept anonymous complaints but, without a named contact, they carry less weight. We will visit the site but unless there is clear visible evidence to support the complaint we will not normally investigate further.

The absence of a named contact also means that we cannot come back to you for further information or let you know the outcome of our investigation.

Confidentiality

We keep complainants’ personal details confidential, although in some cases the source of the complaint may be obvious.

However, where a complaint leads to formal action we may ask a complainant to forgo their anonymity and appear as a witness for the Council.

What happens next?

We acknowledge receipt of complaints within 3 working days, stating the name and telephone number of the case officer.

We investigate all complaints as quickly as possible but it is important that we deal urgently with serious breaches. 

We will inform you of the progress made throughout the investigation, and of any subsequent action that may result.

In most cases we should be able to determine within 4 weeks whether there is a breach. However, where a breach has occurred it may take many months to resolve if an application is submitted or we take formal enforcement action, particularly if an appeal is lodged.  Follow the link below for more information about enforcement appeals.

Date Updated: 20/03/08

Downloads:

File name	Summary	File size / Download time	File Format
Adobe Acrobat Reader is available FREE of charge. You can download it directly from Adobe's website by clicking the link to the right. Once on Adobe's website, follow the instructions on screen to install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Form to report a suspected breach		38KB 56Kbps Modem: Less than 1 Minute Broadband : Less than 1 Minute
Form to report a suspected breach	Use this form to tell us about suspected breaches of planning control	38KB 56Kbps Modem: Less than 1 Minute Broadband : Less than 1 Minute