Planning Enforcement
A breach of planning control happens when a development has taken place without the required planning permission or when a development is not being carried out in accordance with any of the imposed planning conditions. It is defined further within the Town and Country Planning Act (Section 171A).
Examples of planning breaches include:
- where something has been built without planning permission
- alterations made without planning permission
- when the use of land or a building has altered without planning permission
- works to listed buildings without consent
- display of unauthorised advertisements
- works to trees protected by tree preservation orders or trees in conservation areas and rural agricultural hedgerows
- where conditions attached to planning approvals have not been complied with
- where limitations or conditions set out within the General Permitted Development Order have not been followed
- where the poor condition of land is impacting the visual amenities of the wider area
Issues that we cannot investigate
There are many issues which we cannot take action against under planning enforcement such as civil matters or issues covered by other departments in the Council, or where the time limits for enforcement have expired.
You should seek your own legal advice for civil issues such as:
- neighbour disputes
- land boundaries
- deeds of covenant issues
- works to party walls
Report a breach of planning control
Before you submit a request for us to take planning enforcement action online, use our public access service to check the planning history of the premises you would like to report in case planning permission has been granted or there is a planning application pending.
Submit a request for planning enforcement
Planning Enforcement Notices
You can find a list of all of the Enforcement Notices that the Council have on its register. You are able to search for notices based on reference number, address details, and dates.
Hartlepool Development Corporation (HDC)
Please note that any complaints relating to alleged breaches of planning control within the Hartlepool Development Corporation areas would not be investigated by Hartlepool Borough Council and such complaints would need to be directed to the HDC direct.
