Enforcement notice
An enforcement notice is a legal document that can be issued when there has been a breach of planning control. Such a breach is defined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as development carried out without the proper planning permission, or failure to comply with a condition or limitation on permitted development rights.
A planning authority may issue an enforcement notice when it is satisfied that there has been a breach. The notice should detail the following:
- What the breach is.
- The remedies that are required or the activities that must cease.
- How to appeal against the notice.
The issuing of an enforcement notice is followed by a period for compliance during which the recipient must either comply with the notice or lodge an appeal.
It is an offence not to comply with a notice once the compliance period has expired. Where a conviction for failure to comply with a notice is successful, planning authorities can apply for Confiscation Orders to recover any financial benefit obtained through the development which was unauthorised.
The authority also has the power to enter land to carry out the notice requirements themselves if other steps have proven unsuccessful in getting the land owner or occupier to carry out the notice requirements. It is an offence to obstruct anyone exercising such powers.
NB An enforcement notice may also be issued by the local building control department if a development fails to comply with the building regulations, requiring rectification of the works.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles
Check out some of the best features and news from Designing Buildings as well as key stories from around the web.
Construction Management, 8 July
NEETs crisis drives interest in trades, but apprenticeships barriers remain.
Passive fire protection webinar
MEP services penetration seals.
Where its at podcast (and video) - The role of the Architectural Technologist as an Expert Witness.
More than 200 remarkable buildings added to SAVE’s Buildings at Risk register.
Government scraps pre-application consultation for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Historic England and infrastructure
New projects offer opportunities for the historic environment and local communities.
Construction Management, 2 July
Construction deaths halve in two years.
Green Book changes to drive investment in all parts of UK.
Minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES)
CIAT briefing on response to consultations for privately rented non-domestic properties.
Connect, collaborate, shape the future
Registration now live for UK Construction Week Birmingham.
CIOB announces Saul Humphrey FCIOB as new President for 26/27 term.
A quick, simple, and zero-bills solution to prevent overheating.

















