Planning Enforcement Charter 2024

Planning permission is required for most forms of development unless it is classed as 'permitted development'. When development or work is undertaken without permission, or not in accordance with an approved permission or consent, discretionary powers are available to Councils to investigate and take enforcement action, when it is in the public interest to do so. It is for the Councils to decide whether to take enforcement action, based on the significance of the breach and any impacts or planning harm.

It is the role of the planning enforcement team to carry out these duties. A comprehensive guide to Planning Enforcement can be found in the Scottish Government's Circular 10/2009. 

This Charter outlines how the planning enforcement system operates and what can be expected of the service provided by the Council. Planning Enforcement Charters are a statutory requirement for Planning Authorities to regularly maintain and review when needed, but to at least review every two years. 

This Charter explains the role of the Council and how enforcement process works and sets out:

• the Council's role and policy on taking planning enforcement action, including our priorities and the service standards you as a customer (both those who report breaches or who are being investigated) can expect
• how customers can bring any breach of planning control to the attention of the Council 
• explains what happens at each stage of what can sometimes be a lengthy process
• how any complaint about the Council taking enforcement action can be submitted and how it will be dealt with

We continually monitor the implementation of the Charter to ensure that standards are being met and priorities are being addressed. As part of this review process, we publish an Annual Planning Enforcement Report on our performance. This Charter reflects this review process since our last charter was published in January 2021.