Stop notice in planning
A stop notice is an enforcement notice that can be issued by a local planning authority if they believe there is a breach of planning control, that is, where development is carried out without the proper planning permission, or where there is a failure to comply with a condition or limitation stipulated on permitted development rights.
It is an order for the ‘relevant activity’ to cease on any part of that land to which the notice relates.
Section 183 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 enables the local planning authority to serve a stop notice either alongside the serving of an enforcement notice, or afterwards. If the compliance period specified in the enforcement notice has expired, and the relevant activity continues, then a stop notice can be issued.
A stop notice can be withdrawn at any time by giving notification to those who were served with the notice. (This does not prejudice the authority’s power to serve another stop notice.)
If more immediate action is required, the local authority can issue a temporary stop notice.
Failure to comply with a stop notice can lead to prosecution and an unlimited fine.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Enforcement notice.
- Local planning authority.
- Permitted development.
- Planning appeal.
- Planning enforcement.
- Planning enforcement officer
- Planning objection.
- Planning permission.
- Regularisation.
- Special Nature Conservation Order SNCO.
- Stop work order.
- Temporary stop notice.
- Town and Country Planning Act
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