Enforcement of Planning Control

We have the responsibility to investigate potential breaches of planning control and take enforcement action when necessary.

A breach of planning control is defined in section 171A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as:

• The carrying out of development without the required planning permission; or
• Failing to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted.

We take the following steps in resolving breaches of planning control:

Negotiation
Most breaches can be dealt with through negotiation and is usually found to be the best way to address the issue.

If however, that cannot resolve the issue then we have powers to issue the following formal notices:

Enforcement notices
Requiring the breach to be dealt with.

Stop notices
Requiring an immediate stop to the breach.

Breach of condition notices
Served when conditions attached to planning permission are being ignored.

A list of Construction Management Plans can be found on our Major Development Sites with Construction Management Plans page.

We provide a monthly update on the enforcement cases we have investigated and closed.

Resolved Planning Enforcement Cases - November 2023

If we have issued a notice then you will be able to view it on our online planning register.

• Planning enforcement - a guide for the community
• Planning enforcement charter
• Planning enforcement - policies and procedures
• Construction charter - good practice guide

North
East Grinstead, Crawley Down, Copthorne, Ardingly, Sharpthorne, Horsted Keynes, Turners Hill, Ashurst Wood
Tel: 01444-477334

Central
Haywards Heath, Balcombe, Bolney, Cuckfield, Lindfield, Scaynes Hill, Pease Pottage, Warninglid, Slaugham, Ansty
Tel: 01444-477357

South
Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Sayers Common, Hurstpierpoint, Albourne, Hickstead, Twineham
Tel: 01444-477338

Email: planninginvestigations@midsussex.gov.uk

South Downs National Park

For queries relating to areas within the South Downs National Park please go to the South Downs National Park website.