Development Control Customer Charter

Monitoring Development

Approved January 2006

Once planning permission has been granted, the applicant may be required to submit further details, in accordance with a planning condition. In the case of straightforward matters a decision will be issued within 15 working days. In the case of more complex matters, it may be necessary to seek the views of other consultees, where this is the case, receipt of the details will be acknowledged and a full response given as soon as possible.

Development must be carried out in accordance with the approved plans. If amendments are submitted a decision will be given within 15 working days as to whether a further application is required or whether the matter may be treated as a minor amendment to the existing approval. If it is considered that the proposed amendment will affect neighbours, normally, the matter cannot be dealt with as a minor amendment and the submission of a fresh application will be required.

The Council will monitor selected developments to assist compliance with planning conditions and the approved plans.

The receipt of written complaints about unauthorised development will be acknowledged within 3 working days. A visit to the site or premises to establish the facts will also be made within ten working days of an alleged breach of planning control being reported.

Where a breach of planning control is established, the person responsible for the breach will be informed in writing what action needs to be taken to correct it. A time limit will be given and the consequence of not taking the appropriate action will be explained. The complainant will be notified within 15 working days, of the findings arising from the officer site visit, explaining what action the authority propose to take, or why no formal enforcement action is needed.

Where the breach of planning control means that enforcement action is a possibility, the matter will be reported to the earliest possible Planning Sub Committee. Where there is a significant breach of a planning condition or further information is required a Breach of Condition Notice or Planning Contravention Notice respectively will be served using powers delegated to officers.

The complainant will be informed in writing within ten working days of a decision being made by the Authority to take formal enforcement action. Complainants will be notified in writing of progress in respect of an enforcement investigation within ten working days if enforcement action is authorised by the Council. If the Council subsequently decides to take no action, the reason will be explained. Further information is available on request, please contact Development Control and ask for a copy of our Enforcement Policy on 0121 7046785.