Report a suspected breach of planning control

Important Note

We do not accept complaints sent to us by email.

The council does not handle issues that are purely neighbourly disputes. Specifically, we cannot assist with boundary disputes or enforcing covenants on deeds.

For details on what counts as a breach of planning control, please refer to What is a breach of planning control?

Information We Need from You

When reporting a suspected breach, please provide the following:

Location: The exact address or location of the site or property involved.
Details of the breach: A clear description of the suspected issue, including what has happened.
Responsible party: If possible, include the name or organisation responsible and when the breach started (date and/or time).
Your contact details: We need your name, address, and telephone number. Anonymous complaints cannot be accepted.

What Happens Next?

Registering your complaint: Your complaint will be recorded, prioritised, and assigned to an investigator.
Acknowledgement: If you provide a postal or email address, we will confirm receipt of your complaint within five working days.
Investigation: The matter will be investigated, and we will inform you of the outcome once the investigation is complete.
Updates: Due to the complexity of some cases and high workloads, we cannot always provide regular updates during the investigation. If you would like an update, contact the case officer using the reference number provided in your acknowledgment letter.

Confidentiality

We will do our best to keep the complainant's identity confidential. In many cases, council officers are the original source of complaints. However, people living or working near the site of the suspected planning breach often have the most useful evidence. If a complainant is unwilling to be identified or provide evidence, it may significantly impact the investigation's outcome.