Planning Investigations and Enforcement

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Enforcement news

Planning enforcement yearly reports:

All the formal Notices issued in Brighton & Hove are published in the Enforcement Register (updated 18/04/13).

This Enforcement Register is in alphabetical order by street/road name. It shows all formal Notices other than those issued within the last 2 working days. The file has been uploaded as a spreadsheet so you can search it more easily.

If you are unable to find the notice or address you want, please call the Enforcement Service on 01273 292222.

The Enforcement Policy

The Planning Enforcement Policy [1MB pdf] includes the aims and objectives of the service; the approach taken and the options available to the service; and what the complainant can expect.

The Investigations and Enforcement Team

The Team investigates and enforces against alleged breaches of planning control. Often this process involves negotiating rather than proceeding automatically to the service of legal notices. Examples of the types of allegation we investigate include:

Unauthorised extensions to a property.
Unauthorised changes in the use of land or buildings. (Use Class information and associated policies)
Unauthorised demolition of or alterations to listed buildings or buildings within a conservation area.
Works not in accordance with an approval or where conditions have not been complied with.
Unauthorised display of an advert.
Land or buildings which have been neglected or which are an eyesore.

When can the Team take action?

In some cases the Enforcement Team may not be able to take action. For example:

When the work or change of use falls within nationally defined ‘permitted development’ rules. (Do I need Planning Permission?)
Where an advert benefits from ‘deemed consent’ by the advert regulations.
Where breaches of planning control are immune from enforcement action because a number of years have now passed (10 years, or 4 years for a self-contained dwelling).
The works are considered ‘de minimis,’ i.e. too minor to fall under the scope of planning control.
It is not expedient to take action.
Because the work has planning permission (check the Planning Register).

We cannot accept anonymous complaints as it means we cannot verify particular aspects of the complaint at a later stage e.g. location, nature of breach etc.

How do I make a complaint about unauthorised development?

Complaints are usually only accepted in writing on the Planning Enforcement Complaint Form [doc 45kb] unless the complaint relates to an urgent matter, such as where the fabric of a listed building is at risk. It helps us if you submit photographs. See our Enforcement Complaint FAQ's [pdf 45kb] for more information on how we investigate the issues.

We do not give out details of complainants so your complaint will remain confidential.

Your complaint should be e-mailed to:

planning.investigations@brighton-hove.gov.uk

(Please note this address is only for Investigations and Enforcement. If your enquiry is not connected with investigations or enforcement, please use planning.applications@brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Or by post to: Planning Investigations Team, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ

Or call: 01273 292222

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