redwood bark, Blackwater

Planning enforcement

The New Forest National Park Authority’s Enforcement Policy

  • We will investigate all complaints about breaches of planning and listed building control, however they are received.
  • All complaints are logged onto the Authority’s planning computer system and acknowledged by letter within 3 working days. The acknowledgement letter provides the complainant with the name of the investigating officer and a contact telephone number.
  • Within 15 working days of receipt of a complaint we aim to notify the complainant as to how the Authority intends to deal with the matter although at this stage we may not be able to say precisely what action we can take.
  • High priority will be assigned to cases involving unauthorised works to protected trees and listed buildings, which may result in immediate enforcement action being taken.
  • All complaints will be treated in confidence. The identity of the complainant will not usually be revealed unless consent is given to do so. However, this is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (see section 12 for further details)
  • Anonymous complaints may receive a lower priority as we will be unable to contact the complainant for further information which may be needed to assist our enquiries.
  • All complainants will be advised of the outcome of our investigations and any action the Authority proposes to take to remedy the breach. In those circumstances where the Authority does not take enforcement action, an explanation will be provided.
  • We will advise those responsible for a breach of planning control that it is open to them to try and regularise the matter through the submission of a retrospective planning application. In such circumstances, it will be made clear that the offer to submit a retrospective planning application is made without prejudice to any final decision the Authority may take in the matter.
  • We will normally suspend enforcement proceedings whilst considering a valid retrospective planning application unless there are good reasons not to.
  • If appropriate, we will try to suggest an alternative site where a use could perhaps be more appropriately located.
  • We will work together with our external partners to ensure that joint investigations are undertaken where it is known that a suspected breach may involve other regulatory agencies.
  • We will pass on complaints which fall within the province of other agencies to the relevant department.
  • We will liaise with the local authority Building Control Services in monitoring new developments and checking compliance with planning conditions imposed on planning permissions.

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