We are committed to delivering growth and bringing forward the best possible developments.
As part of that commitment, the council has launched a consultation on its Planning Enforcement Plan and we want residents and businesses to have their say.
The plan sets out how we investigate and respond to breaches of planning control, no matter how big or small, from building without planning consent to damage to protected trees or listed buildings.
It provides a simple and transparent framework for helping to protect the planning system, which is a catalyst for placemaking, regeneration and good growth.
Councillor Majid Rahman, Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development, said: “We encourage growth as it is crucial in unlocking our borough’s significant potential. But we are clear that development must be high quality, sustainable, and above all, lawful.
“This Planning Enforcement Plan demonstrates clearly how we’ll uphold the rules to not only protect local communities and the heritage of our borough, but also to support good and transparent development.
“Not many locations can lay claim to a World Heritage Site, but we can, and it is through frameworks such as this that we can protect the borough’s rich history while welcoming new investment.”
Key features of the Enforcement Plan include:
- Graded categories that prioritise investigations based on risk and harm
- Updated time limits for enforcement following changes to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023
- A clear and detailed breakdown of enforcement tools available
- Guidance on what a breach is and how to report it
You can have your say on the Enforcement Plan until midnight on Wednesday 3 December.