How we deal with a complaint
How we'll deal with your complaint
After you make a complaint
- you will receive a letter or email of acknowledgement within two working days
- we'll visit the property to see what has taken place, what harm it is causing and how it might be resolved
- within 20 working days we'll issue advice about how we intend to deal with the matter, although more serious breaches (eg demolition of a listed building) will be visited as soon as possible
- we'll produce a written notification of any decision to take formal action or not, including an explanation of our reasons
- we'll update you and other parties at key stages of the investigation and inform you of the outcome.
We will notify you if a retrospective planning application is submitted during our investigation so you have the chance to formally give us your views. We will also notify you if an appeal is lodged against an enforcement notice or any other notice.
Please note that a planning enforcement investigation can take some time.
Notifying the person responsible
If a breach is identified, the person responsible will be told what is wrong and what action is required to remedy the breach.
In the majority of cases, unless there is serious and immediate ongoing harm to the environment, highway safety or neighbours, the person responsible will be given an opportunity to rectify the breach before the commencement of costly and protracted formal action.