Planning Enforcement

The Enforcement Team investigate concerns where development may have been undertaken without appropriate permission from the Council or has not been completed in accordance with a permission granted.

Such investigations may include:

Unauthorised building or engineering works
Unauthorised change of use of land or buildings
Non-compliance with Conditions attached to a Planning Permission, Listed Building or Conservation Area Consent
Unauthorised works to a Listed Building
Unauthorised work to a tree with a Tree Preservation Order or other trees in a Conservation Area
Unauthorised display of advertisements
Unauthorised work to a listed building, the unauthorised display of advertisements or unauthorised works to protected trees or trees growing in conservation areas is a criminal offence.

How to report a possible breach of planning control

You should normally notify us of your concern in writing via an online form, by letter, by email or by fax (01993 861451).

Contact details:

West Oxfordshire District Council
Planning Enforcement, Elmfield, New Yatt Road, Witney, OX28 1PB.

If possible include details of the precise location of the site, the exact nature of the alleged breach, when the breach started and the problems it is causing. Please make sure that you include your contact details in case we need to discuss the concern with you further.

You are advised that your information is treated 'in confidence' but that the investigation may be made public.

What you should expect

The Council aims to deal fairly with all concerns about unauthorised development and must establish the facts before considering whether any enforcement action should be undertaken.

The Council has a Policy for the Enforcement of Planning Control in which we set out our aims, what you should expect if you raise a concern with the Council regarding development and what will happen when we make our investigations. Information can also be found in the leaflet Planning Enforcement 'How to make your complaint'.

Should you be the owner or occupier of property which is being investigated by the Council in regard to an alleged breach of planning control, the leaflet Planning Enforcement 'Guidance for owners and occupiers - how the council handles investigations' explains the investigation process and the options that may be open to you in order to put things right should it be required.

Complaints are always dealt with confidentially and and there is no public right to access information about complainants.

In order to investigate breaches of planning control, officers of the Council will exercise their 'right of entry' onto land where access is initially denied.

Anonymous or malicious complaints will only be investigated when the matter complained about is likely to result in serious harm.

Deciding whether to take formal action

In deciding to take any form of enforcement action the Council will need to satisfy itself that the action is reasonable, expedient and justifiable solely on planning grounds.

Enforcement action is usually taken as a last resort and where possible, the Council is prepared to discuss alternative solutions to resolve a breach of planning control.

The issue of an enforcement notice is usually seen as a last resort. Officers are able to resolve many issues through discussion, leading to action which is taken voluntarily by landowners as a response to officer advice.

Some cases do, however, require swift and decisive action by the Council.

For more information, please contact the Enforcement team on 01993 861653