Summary of the Planning Enforcement Plan

What do we do?

The role of the planning enforcement team is to investigate complaints relating to breaches of planning, tree protection, listed building, conservation area or advertisement control within the Borough.

What is a breach of planning control?

A breach of planning control includes building or engineering works without planningnpermission, material changes of use of land or buildings without planning permission or the failure to comply with conditions imposed on a planning permission. Breaches of planning control are not a criminal offence.

Unauthorised works to listed buildings, unauthorised works to or felling of trees protected by a tree preservation order, unauthorised display of advertisements and the demolition of buildings/works to trees in a conservation area are criminal offences.

It is important to note that listed building consent is required for any works to a listed building, whether internal or external, and not just works to those items specifically mentioned in the building’s listing. Unauthorised works are, as indicated above, a serious criminal offence.

How do we deal with breaches of control?

An enforcement officer will visit the site complained of to establish whether there is a breach of planning control. If there is, they will make an assessment of the harm being caused by the breach. Should the level of harm not be significant then no further action will be taken. Where it is appropriate, in the public interest, the council will take proportionate and appropriate action to secure compliance with planning legislation. This may include the service of formal notices or prosecution.

What can’t we deal with?

There are matters which are frequently reported to planning enforcement officers that are civil matters and in such cases the informant will be directed to the Citizens Advice Bureau or to their own legal advisor. These matters include boundary disputes and the enforcement of covenants attached to house deeds. In common with the Land Registry, the council cannot determine boundaries on sites, the only competent bodies to determine boundaries being the county courts or High Court.

The use of, or development on, adopted highways, pavements or highway grass verges or the siting of advertising ‘A’ boards on them, are dealt with by the Highways Department of Hertfordshire County Council.

The following matters are also not breaches of planning control: Small scale business activities carried out from home; any internal works to buildings which are not listed buildings; the lopping or removal of trees or hedges which are not located in a Conservation Area or covered by a Tree Preservation Order or the painting of the exterior of an unlisted house - whatever the colour.

Report a breach of planning control

Report a breach of planning control online or e-mail enforcement@welhat.gov.uk. Anonymous and apparently vexatious complaints will not normally be investigated.

Standards of service

Enforcement officers have a very high workload, necessitating a priority system to ensure that the most serious breaches are given priority. All cases will be investigated at the first available opportunity and, additionally, we aim to have commenced investigations within the time scale shown below: