(1) The local planning authority may issue a notice (in this Act referred to as an “enforcement notice”) where it appears to them—
(a) that there has been a breach of planning control; and
(b) that it is expedient to issue the notice, having regard to the provisions of the development plan and to any other material considerations.
(2) A copy of an enforcement notice shall be served—
(a) on the owner and on the occupier of the land to which it relates; and
(b) on any other person having an interest in the land, being an interest which, in the opinion of the authority, is materially affected by the notice.
(3) The service of the notice shall take place—
(a) not more than twenty-eight days after its date of issue; and
(b) not less than twenty-eight days before the date specified in it as the date on which it is to take effect.
(1) The local planning authority may issue a notice (an “enforcement warning notice”) where it appears to them that—
(a) there has been a breach of planning control in respect of any land in England, and
(b) there is a reasonable prospect that, if an application for planning permission in respect of the development concerned were made, planning permission would be granted.
(2) The notice must—
(a) state the matters that appear to the authority to constitute the breach of planning control, and
(b) state that, unless an application for planning permission is made within a period specified in the notice, further enforcement action may be taken.
(3) A copy of the notice must be served—
(a) on the owner and the occupier of the land to which it relates, and
(b) on any other person having an interest in the land, being an interest that, in the opinion of the authority, would be materially affected by the taking of any further enforcement action.
(4) The issue of an enforcement warning notice does not affect any other power exercisable in respect of any breach of planning control.
172A Assurance as regards prosecution for person served with notice
(1) When, or at any time after, an enforcement notice is served on a person, the local planning authority may give the person a letter—
(a) explaining that, once the enforcement notice had been issued, the authority was required to serve the notice on the person,
(b) giving the person one of the following assurances—
(i) that, in the circumstances as they appear to the authority, the person is not at risk of being prosecuted under section 179 in connection with the enforcement notice, or
(ii) that, in the circumstances as they appear to the authority, the person is not at risk of being prosecuted under section 179 in connection with the matters relating to the enforcement notice that are specified in the letter,
(c) explaining, where the person is given the assurance under paragraph (b)(ii), the respects in which the person is at risk of being prosecuted under section 179 in connection with the enforcement notice, and
(d) stating that, if the authority subsequently wishes to withdraw the assurance in full or part, the authority will first give the person a letter specifying a future time for the withdrawal that will allow the person a reasonable opportunity to take any steps necessary to avoid any risk of prosecution that is to cease to be covered by the assurance.
(2) At any time after a person has under subsection (1) been given a letter containing an assurance, the local planning authority may give the person a letter withdrawing the assurance (so far as not previously withdrawn) in full or part from a time specified in the letter.
(3) The time specified in a letter given under subsection (2) to a person must be such as will give the person a reasonable opportunity to take any steps necessary to avoid any risk of prosecution that is to cease to be covered by the assurance.
(4) Withdrawal under subsection (2) of an assurance given under subsection (1) does not withdraw the assurance so far as relating to prosecution on account of there being a time before the withdrawal when steps had not been taken or an activity had not ceased.
(5) An assurance given under subsection (1) (so far as not withdrawn under subsection (2)) is binding on any person with power to prosecute an offence under section 179.
(1) An enforcement notice shall state—
(a) the matters which appear to the local planning authority to constitute the breach of planning control; and
(b) the paragraph of section 171A(1) within which, in the opinion of the authority, the breach falls.
(2) A notice complies with subsection (1)(a) if it enables any person on whom a copy of it is served to know what those matters are.
(3) An enforcement notice shall specify the steps which the authority require to be taken, or the activities which the authority require to cease, in order to achieve, wholly or partly, any of the following purposes.
(4) Those purposes are—
(a) remedying the breach by making any development comply with the terms (including conditions and limitations) of any planning permission which has been granted in respect of the land, by discontinuing any use of the land or by restoring the land to its condition before the breach took place; or
(b) remedying any injury to amenity which has been caused by the breach.
(5) An enforcement notice may, for example, require—
(a) the alteration or removal of any buildings or works;
(b) the carrying out of any building or other operations;
(c) any activity on the land not to be carried on except to the extent specified in the notice; or
(d) the contour of a deposit of refuse or waste materials on land to be modified by altering the gradient or gradients of its sides.
(6) Where an enforcement notice is issued in respect of a breach of planning control consisting of demolition of a building, the notice may require the construction of a building (in this section referred to as a “replacement building”) which, subject to subsection (7), is as similar as possible to the demolished building.
(7) A replacement building—
(a) must comply with any requirement imposed by any enactment applicable to the construction of buildings;
(b) may differ from the demolished building in any respect which, if the demolished building had been altered in that respect, would not have constituted a breach of planning control;
(c) must comply with any regulations made for the purposes of this subsection (including regulations modifying paragraphs (a) and (b)).
(8) An enforcement notice shall specify the date on which it is to take effect and, subject to sections 175(4) and 289(4A), shall take effect on that date.
(9) An enforcement notice shall specify the period at the end of which any steps are required to have been taken or any activities are required to have ceased and may specify different periods for different steps or activities; and, where different periods apply to different steps or activities, references in this Part to the period for compliance with an enforcement notice, in relation to any step or activity, are to the period at the end of which the step is required to have been taken or the activity is required to have ceased.
(10) An enforcement notice shall specify such additional matters as may be prescribed, and regulations may require every copy of an enforcement notice served under section 172 to be accompanied by an explanatory note giving prescribed information as to the right of appeal under section 174.
(11) Where—
(a) an enforcement notice in respect of any breach of planning control could have required any buildings or works to be removed or any activity to cease, but does not do so; and
(b) all the requirements of the notice have been complied with,
then, so far as the notice did not so require, planning permission shall be treated as having been granted by virtue of section 73A in respect of development consisting of the construction of the buildings or works or, as the case may be, the carrying out of the activities.
(12) Where—
(a) an enforcement notice requires the construction of a replacement building; and
(b) all the requirements of the notice with respect to that construction have been complied with,
planning permission shall be treated as having been granted by virtue of section 73A in respect of development consisting of that construction.
(1) This section applies where it appears to the local planning authority that—
(a) there has been a breach of planning control in respect of any land in Wales, and
(b) there is a reasonable prospect that, if an application for planning permission in respect of the development concerned were made, planning permission would be granted.
(2) The authority may issue a notice under this section (an “enforcement warning notice”).
(3) A copy of an enforcement warning notice is to be served—
(a) on the owner and the occupier of the land to which the notice relates, and
(b) on any other person having an interest in the land, being an interest that, in the opinion of the authority, would be materially affected by the taking of any further enforcement action.
(4) The notice must—
(a) state the matters that appear to the authority to constitute the breach of planning control, and
(b) state that, unless an application for planning permission is made within a period specified in the notice, further enforcement action may be taken.
(5) The issue of an enforcement warning notice does not affect any other power exercisable in respect of any breach of planning control.
173A Variation and withdrawal of enforcement notices.
(1) The local planning authority may—
(a) withdraw an enforcement notice issued by them; or
(b) waive or relax any requirement of such a notice and, in particular, may extend any period specified in accordance with section 173(9).
(2) The powers conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised whether or not the notice has taken effect.
(3) The local planning authority shall, immediately after exercising the powers conferred by subsection (1), give notice of the exercise to every person who has been served with a copy of the enforcement notice or would, if the notice were re-issued, be served with a copy of it.
(4) The withdrawal of an enforcement notice does not affect the power of the local planning authority to issue a further enforcement notice.
(1) A person having an interest in the land to which an enforcement notice relates or a relevant occupier may appeal to the Secretary of State against the notice, whether or not a copy of it has been served on him.
(2) An appeal may be brought on any of the following grounds—
(a) that, in respect of any breach of planning control which may be constituted by the matters stated in the notice, planning permission ought to be granted or, as the case may be, the condition or limitation concerned ought to be discharged;
(b) that those matters have not occurred;
(c) that those matters (if they occurred) do not constitute a breach of planning control;
(d) that, at the date when the notice was issued, no enforcement action could be taken in respect of any breach of planning control which may be constituted by those matters;
(e) that copies of the enforcement notice were not served as required by section 172;
(f) that the steps required by the notice to be taken, or the activities required by the notice to cease, exceed what is necessary to remedy any breach of planning control which may be constituted by those matters or, as the case may be, to remedy any injury to amenity which has been caused by any such breach;
(g) that any period specified in the notice in accordance with section 173(9) falls short of what should reasonably be allowed.
(2A) An appeal may not be brought on the ground specified in subsection (2)(a) if—
(a) the land to which the enforcement notice relates is in England, and
(b) the enforcement notice was issued at a time after the making of an application for planning permission that was related to the enforcement notice.
(2AA) For the purposes of subsection (2A)—
(a) an application for planning permission for the development of any land is related to an enforcement notice if granting planning permission for the development would involve granting planning permission in respect of the matters specified in the enforcement notice as constituting a breach of planning control;
(b) an application for planning permission that the local planning authority or the Secretary of State declined to determine under section 70A, 70B or 70C is to be ignored.
(2AB) But subsection (2A) does not apply if—
(a) the application for planning permission has ceased to be under consideration, and
(b) the enforcement notice was issued after the end of the period of two years beginning with the day on which the application ceased to be under consideration.
(2AC) For the purposes of subsection (2AB), an application for planning permission has ceased to be under consideration if—
(a) the application was refused, or granted subject to conditions, and, in the case of an application determined by the local planning authority, the applicant did not appeal under section 78(1)(a);
(b) the applicant did not appeal in the circumstances mentioned in section 78(2) and the application was not subsequently refused;
(c) the applicant appealed under section 78(1)(a) or section 78(2) and—
(i) the appeal was dismissed,
(ii) the application was on appeal granted subject to conditions, or subject to different conditions, or
(iii) the Secretary of State declined under section 79(6) to determine the appeal.
(2B) For the purposes of subsection (2AB), the day on which the application ceased to be under consideration is—
(a) in a case within subsection (2AC)(a), the day on which the right to appeal arose;
(b) in a case within subsection (2AC)(b), the day after the end of the prescribed period referred to in section 78(2);
(c) in a case within subsection (2AC)(c)(i), the day on which the appeal was dismissed;
(d) in a case within subsection (2AC)(c)(ii), the day on which the appeal was determined;
(e) in a case within subsection (2AC)(c)(iii) relating to an appeal under section 78(1)(a), the day on which the right to appeal arose;
(f) in a case within subsection (2AC)(c)(iii) relating to an appeal under section 78(2), the day after the end of the prescribed period referred to in section 78(2).
(2C) Where any breach of planning control constituted by the matters stated in the notice relates to relevant demolition (within the meaning of section 196D), an appeal may also be brought on the grounds that—
(a) the relevant demolition was urgently necessary in the interests of safety or health;
(b) it was not practicable to secure safety or health by works of repair or works for affording temporary support or shelter; and
(c) the relevant demolition was the minimum measure necessary.
(2D) An appeal against an enforcement notice may not be brought on the ground that planning permission ought to be granted in respect of a breach of planning control constituted by a matter stated in the notice, as specified in subsection (2)(a), if—
(a) the land to which the enforcement notice relates is in Wales, and
(b) the enforcement notice was issued after a decision to refuse planning permission for a related development was upheld on an appeal under section 78 (and for this purpose development is “related” if granting planning permission for it would involve granting planning permission in respect of the matter concerned).
(2E) An appeal may not be brought on the ground that a condition or limitation ought to be discharged, as specified in subsection (2)(a), if—
(a) the land to which the enforcement notice relates is in Wales, and
(b) the enforcement notice was issued after a decision to grant planning permission subject to the condition or limitation was upheld on an appeal under section 78.
(2F) For the purposes of subsections (2D) and (2E), references to a decision that has been upheld on an appeal include references to a decision in respect of which—
(a) the Welsh Ministers have, under section 79(6), declined to determine an appeal or to proceed with the determination of an appeal;
(b) an appeal has been dismissed under section 79(6A).
(3) An appeal under this section shall be made . . . —
(a) by giving written notice of the appeal to the Secretary of State before the date specified in the enforcement notice as the date on which it is to take effect; or
(b) by sending such notice to him in a properly addressed and pre-paid letter posted to him at such time that, in the ordinary course of post, it would be delivered to him before that date ; or
(c) by sending such notice to him using electronic communications at such time that, in the ordinary course of transmission, it would be delivered to him before that date.
(4) A person who gives notice under subsection (3) shall submit to the Secretary of State, either when giving the notice or within the prescribed time, a statement in writing—
(a) specifying the grounds on which he is appealing against the enforcement notice; and
(b) giving such further information as may be prescribed.
(5) If, where more than one ground is specified in that statement, the appellant does not give information required under subsection (4)(b) in relation to each of those grounds within the prescribed time, the Secretary of State may determine the appeal without considering any ground as to which the appellant has failed to give such information within that time.
(6) In this section “relevant occupier” means a person who—
(a) on the date on which the enforcement notice is issued occupies the land to which the notice relates by virtue of a licence [. . .; and
(b) continues so to occupy the land when the appeal is brought.
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe the procedure which is to be followed on appeals under section 174 and, in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of this subsection, may—
(a) require the local planning authority to submit, within such time as may be prescribed, a statement indicating the submissions which they propose to put forward on the appeal;
(b) specify the matters to be included in such a statement;
(c) require the authority or the appellant to give such notice of such an appeal as may be prescribed;
(d) require the authority to send to the Secretary of State, within such period from the date of the bringing of the appeal as may be prescribed, a copy of the enforcement notice and a list of the persons served with copies of it.
(2) The notice to be prescribed under subsection (1)(c) shall be such notice as in the opinion of the Secretary of State is likely to bring the appeal to the attention of persons in the locality in which the land to which the enforcement notice relates is situated.
(3) Subject to section 176(4), the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local planning authority so desire, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.
(3A) Subsection (3) does not apply to an appeal against an enforcement notice issued by a local planning authority in England.
(3B) Subsection (3) does not apply to an appeal against an enforcement notice issued by a local planning authority in Wales.
(4) Where an appeal is brought under section 174 the enforcement notice shall subject to any order under section 289(4A) be of no effect pending the final determination or the withdrawal of the appeal.
(5) Where any person has appealed to the Secretary of State against an enforcement notice, no person shall be entitled, in any other proceedings instituted after the making of the appeal, to claim that the notice was not duly served on the person who appealed.
(6) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under section 174, including appeals under that section as applied by regulations under any other provisions of this Act.
(7) Subsection (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (which authorises a Minister holding an inquiry under that section to make orders with respect to the costs of the parties) shall apply in relation to any proceedings in England before the Secretary of State on an appeal under section 174 as if those proceedings were an inquiry held by the Secretary of State under section 250.
176 General provisions relating to determination of appeals.
(1) On an appeal under section 174 the Secretary of State may—
(a) correct any defect, error or misdescription in the enforcement notice; or
(b) vary the terms of the enforcement notice,
if he is satisfied that the correction or variation will not cause injustice to the appellant or the local planning authority.
(2) Where the Secretary of State determines to allow the appeal, he may quash the notice.
(2A) The Secretary of State shall give any directions necessary to give effect to his determination on the appeal.
(3) The Secretary of State—
(a) may dismiss an appeal if the appellant fails to comply with section 174(4) within the prescribed time; and
(b) may allow an appeal and quash the enforcement notice if the local planning authority fail to comply with any requirement of regulations made by virtue of paragraph (a), (b), or (d) of section 175(1) within the prescribed period.
(4) If section 175(3) would otherwise apply and the Secretary of State proposes to dismiss an appeal under paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section or to allow an appeal and quash the enforcement notice under paragraph (b) of that subsection, he need not comply with section 175(3).
(5) Where it would otherwise be a ground for determining an appeal under section 174 in favour of the appellant that a person required to be served with a copy of the enforcement notice was not served, the Secretary of State may disregard that fact if neither the appellant nor that person has been substantially prejudiced by the failure to serve him.
(6) If at any time before or during the determination of an appeal against an enforcement notice issued by a local planning authority in England it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, the Secretary of State may—
(a) give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are so specified for the expedition of the appeal, and
(b) if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.
177 Grant or modification of planning permission on appeals against enforcement notices.
(1) On the determination of an appeal under section 174, the Secretary of State may—
(a) grant planning permission in respect of the matters stated in the enforcement notice as constituting a breach of planning control, whether in relation to the whole or any part of those matters or in relation to the whole or any part of the land to which the notice relates;
(b) discharge any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission was granted;
(c) determine whether, on the date on which the appeal was made, any existing use of the land was lawful, any operations which had been carried out in, on, over or under the land were lawful or any matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission was granted was lawful and, if so, issue a certificate under section 191.
(1A) The provisions of sections 191 to 194 mentioned in subsection (1B) shall apply for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) as they apply for the purposes of section 191, but as if—
(a) any reference to an application for a certificate were a reference to the appeal and any reference to the date of such an application were a reference to the date on which the appeal is made; and
(b) references to the local planning authority were references to the Secretary of State.
(1B) Those provisions are: sections 191(5) to (7), 193(4) (so far as it relates to the form of the certificate), (6) and (7) and 194
(1C) Subsection (1)(a) applies only if the statement under section 174(4) specifies the ground mentioned in section 174(2)(a).
(2) In considering whether to grant planning permission under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall have regard to the provisions of the development plan, so far as material to the subject matter of the enforcement notice, and to any other material considerations.
(3) The planning permission that may be granted under subsection (1) is any planning permission that might be granted on an application under Part III.
(4) Where under subsection (1) the Secretary of State discharges a condition or limitation, he may substitute another condition or limitation for it, whether more or less onerous.
(4A) Section 100ZA (which makes provision about restrictions on the power to impose conditions or limitations on a grant of planning permission in relation to land in England) applies in relation to conditions substituted under subsection (4) as it applies in relation to conditions imposed on a grant of planning permission to develop land which is granted on an application made under Part 3.
(5) Where—
(a) an appeal against an enforcement notice is brought under section 174, and
(b) the statement under section 174(4) specifies the ground mentioned in section 174(2)(a),
the appellant shall be deemed to have made an application for planning permission in respect of the matters stated in the enforcement notice as constituting a breach of planning control.
(5A) Where—
(a) the statement under subsection (4) of section 174 specifies the ground mentioned in subsection (2)(a) of that section;
(b) any fee is payable under regulations made by virtue of section 303 in respect of the application deemed to be made by virtue of the appeal; and
(c) the Secretary of State gives notice in writing to the appellant specifying the period within which the fee must be paid,
then, if that fee is not paid within that period, the appeal, so far as brought on that ground, and the application shall lapse at the end of that period.
(6) Any planning permission granted under subsection (1) on an appeal shall be treated as granted on the application deemed to have been made by the appellant.
(7) In relation to a grant of planning permission or a determination under subsection (1) the Secretary of State’s decision shall be final.
(8) For the purposes of section 69 the Secretary of State’s decision shall be treated as having been given by him in dealing with an application for planning permission made to the local planning authority.
178 Execution and cost of works required by enforcement notice.
(1) Where any steps required by an enforcement notice to be taken are not taken within the period for compliance with the notice, the local planning authority may—
(a) enter the land and take the steps; and
(b) recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.
(2) Where a copy of an enforcement notice has been served in respect of any breach of planning control . . .—
(a) any expenses incurred by the owner or occupier of any land for the purpose of complying with the notice, and
(b) any sums paid by the owner of any land under subsection (1) in respect of expenses incurred by the local planning authority in taking steps required by such a notice to be taken,
shall be deemed to be incurred or paid for the use and at the request of the person by whom the breach of planning control was committed.
(3) Regulations made under this Act may provide that—
(a) section 276 of the Public Health Act 1936, (power of local authorities to sell materials removed in executing works under that Act subject to accounting for the proceeds of sale);
(b) section 289 of that Act (power to require the occupier of any premises to permit works to be executed by the owner of the premises); and
(c) section 294 of that Act (limit on liability of persons holding premises as agents or trustees in respect of the expenses recoverable under that Act),
shall apply, subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the regulations, in relation to any steps required to be taken by an enforcement notice.
(4) Regulations under subsection (3) applying section 289 of the Public Health Act 1936 may include adaptations and modifications for the purpose of giving the owner of land to which an enforcement notice relates the right, as against all other persons interested in the land, to comply with the requirements of the enforcement notice.
(5) Regulations under subsection (3) may also provide for the charging on the land of any expenses recoverable by a local planning authority under subsection (1).
(6) Any person who wilfully obstructs a person acting in the exercise of powers under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
179 Offence where enforcement notice not complied with.
(1) Where, at any time after the end of the period for compliance with an enforcement notice, any step required by the notice to be taken has not been taken or any activity required by the notice to cease is being carried on, the person who is then the owner of the land is in breach of the notice.
(2) Where the owner of the land is in breach of an enforcement notice he shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) In proceedings against any person for an offence under subsection (2), it shall be a defence for him to show that he did everything he could be expected to do to secure compliance with the notice.
(4) A person who has control of or an interest in the land to which an enforcement notice relates (other than the owner) must not carry on any activity which is required by the notice to cease or cause or permit such an activity to be carried on.
(5) A person who, at any time after the end of the period for compliance with the notice, contravenes subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) An offence under subsection (2) or (5) may be charged by reference to any day or longer period of time and a person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offence under the subsection in question by reference to any period of time following the preceding conviction for such an offence.
(7) Where—
(a) a person charged with an offence under this section has not been served with a copy of the enforcement notice; and
(b) the notice is not contained in the appropriate register kept under section 188,
it shall be a defence for him to show that he was not aware of the existence of the notice.
(8) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
(9) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under this section, the court shall in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to him in consequence of the offence.
180 Effect of planning permission, etc., on enforcement or breach of condition notice.
(1) Where, after the service of—
(a) a copy of an enforcement notice; or
(b) a breach of condition notice,
planning permission is granted for any development carried out before the grant of that permission, the notice shall cease to have effect so far as inconsistent with that permission.
(2) Where after a breach of condition notice has been served any condition to which the notice relates is discharged, the notice shall cease to have effect so far as it requires any person to secure compliance with the condition in question.
(3) The fact that an enforcement notice or breach of condition notice has wholly or partly ceased to have effect by virtue of this section shall not affect the liability of any person for an offence in respect of a previous failure to comply, or secure compliance, with the notice.
181 Enforcement notice to have effect against subsequent development.
(1) Compliance with an enforcement notice, whether in respect of—
(a) the completion, removal or alteration of any buildings or works;
(b) the discontinuance of any use of land; or
(c) any other requirements contained in the notice,
shall not discharge the notice.
(2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), any provision of an enforcement notice requiring a use of land to be discontinued shall operate as a requirement that it shall be discontinued permanently, to the extent that it is in contravention of Part III; and accordingly the resumption of that use at any time after it has been discontinued in compliance with the enforcement notice shall to that extent be in contravention of the enforcement notice.
(3) Without prejudice to subsection (1), if any development is carried out on land by way of reinstating or restoring buildings or works which have been removed or altered in compliance with an enforcement notice, the notice shall, notwithstanding that its terms are not apt for the purpose, be deemed to apply in relation to the buildings or works as reinstated or restored as it applied in relation to the buildings or works before they were removed or altered; and, subject to subsection (4), the provisions of section 178(1) and (2) shall apply accordingly.
(4) Where, at any time after an enforcement notice takes effect—
(a) any development is carried out on land by way of reinstating or restoring buildings or works which have been removed or altered in compliance with the notice; and
(b) the local planning authority propose, under section 178(1), to take any steps required by the enforcement notice for the removal or alteration of the buildings or works in consequence of the reinstatement or restoration,
the local planning authority shall, not less than 28 days before taking any such steps, serve on the owner and occupier of the land a notice of their intention to do so.
(5) Where without planning permission a person carries out any development on land by way of reinstating or restoring buildings or works which have been removed or altered in compliance with an enforcement notice—
(a) he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, and
(b) no person shall be liable under section 179(2) for failure to take any steps required to be taken by an enforcement notice by way of removal or alteration of what has been so reinstated or restored.
(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient that an enforcement notice should be issued in respect of any land, he may issue such a notice.
(2) The Secretary of State shall not issue such a notice without consulting the local planning authority.
(3) An enforcement notice issued by the Secretary of State shall have the same effect as a notice issued by the local planning authority.
(4) In relation to an enforcement notice issued by the Secretary of State, sections 178 and 181 shall apply as if for any reference in those sections to the local planning authority there were substituted a reference to the Secretary of State.
(1) Where the local planning authority consider it expedient that any relevant activity should cease before the expiry of the period for compliance with an enforcement notice, they may, when they serve the copy of the enforcement notice or afterwards, serve a notice (in this Act referred to as a “stop notice”) prohibiting the carrying out of that activity on the land to which the enforcement notice relates, or any part of that land specified in the stop notice.
(2) In this section and sections 184 and 186 “relevant activity” means any activity specified in the enforcement notice as an activity which the local planning authority require to cease and any activity carried out as part of that activity or associated with that activity.
(3) A stop notice may not be served where the enforcement notice has taken effect.
(4) A stop notice shall not prohibit the use of any building as a dwellinghouse.
(5) A stop notice shall not prohibit the carrying out of any activity if the activity has been carried out (whether continuously or not) for a period of more than four years ending with the service of the notice; and for the purposes of this subsection no account is to be taken of any period during which the activity was authorised by planning permission.
(5A) Subsection (5) does not prevent a stop notice prohibiting any activity consisting of, or incidental to, building, engineering, mining or other operations or the deposit of refuse or waste materials.
(6) A stop notice may be served by the local planning authority on any person who appears to them to have an interest in the land or to be engaged in any activity prohibited by the notice.
(7) The local planning authority may at any time withdraw a stop notice (without prejudice to their power to serve another) by serving notice to that effect on persons served with the stop notice.
(1) A stop notice must refer to the enforcement notice to which it relates and have a copy of that notice annexed to it.
(2) A stop notice must specify the date on which it will take effect (and it cannot be contravened until that date).
(3) That date—
(a) must not be earlier than three days after the date when the notice is served, unless the local planning authority consider that there are special reasons for specifying an earlier date and a statement of those reasons is served with the stop notice; and
(b) must not be later than twenty-eight days from the date when the notice is first served on any person.
(4) A stop notice shall cease to have effect when—
(a) the enforcement notice to which it relates is withdrawn or quashed; or
(b) the period for compliance with the enforcement notice expires; or
(c) notice of the withdrawal of the stop notice is first served under section 183(7).
(5) A stop notice shall also cease to have effect if or to the extent that the activities prohibited by it cease, on a variation of the enforcement notice, to be relevant activities.
(6) Where a stop notice has been served in respect of any land, the local planning authority may display there a notice (in this section and section 187 referred to as a “site notice”)—
(a) stating that a stop notice has been served and that any person contravening it may be prosecuted for an offence under section 187,
(b) giving the date when the stop notice takes effect, and
(c) indicating its requirements.
(7) If under section 183(7) the local planning authority withdraw a stop notice in respect of which a site notice was displayed, they must display a notice of the withdrawal in place of the site notice.
(8) A stop notice shall not be invalid by reason that a copy of the enforcement notice to which it relates was not served as required by section 172if it is shown that the local planning authority took all such steps as were reasonably practicable to effect proper service.
185 Service of stop notices by Secretary of State.
(1) If it appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient that a stop notice should be served in respect of any land, he may himself serve such a notice.
(2) A notice served by the Secretary of State under subsection (1) shall have the same effect as if it had been served by the local planning authority.
(3) The Secretary of State shall not serve such a notice without consulting the local planning authority.
(1) Where a stop notice is served under section 183 compensation may be payable under this section in respect of a prohibition contained in the notice only if—
(a) the enforcement notice is quashed on grounds other than those mentioned in paragraph (a) of section 174(2);
(b) the enforcement notice is varied (otherwise than on the grounds mentioned in that paragraph) so that any activity the carrying out of which is prohibited by the stop notice ceases to be a relevant activity;
(c) the enforcement notice is withdrawn by the local planning authority otherwise than in consequence of the grant by them of planning permission for the development to which the notice relates . . . ; or
(d) the stop notice is withdrawn.
(2) A person who, when the stop notice is first served, has an interest in or occupies the land to which the notice relates shall be entitled to be compensated by the local planning authority in respect of any loss or damage directly attributable to the prohibition contained in the notice or, in a case within subsection (1)(b), the prohibition of such of the activities prohibited by the stop notice as cease to be relevant activities.
(3) A claim for compensation under this section shall be made to the local planning authority within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.
(4) The loss or damage in respect of which compensation is payable under this section in respect of a prohibition shall include any sum payable in respect of a breach of contract caused by the taking of action necessary to comply with the prohibition.
(5) No compensation is payable under this section—
(a) in respect of the prohibition in a stop notice of any activity which, at any time when the notice is in force, constitutes or contributes to a breach of planning control; or
(b) in the case of a claimant who was required to provide information under section 171C or 330 or section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, in respect of any loss or damage suffered by him which could have been avoided if he had provided the information or had otherwise co-operated with the local planning authority when responding to the notice.
(6) Except in so far as may be otherwise provided by any regulations made under this Act, any question of disputed compensation under this Part shall be referred to and determined by the Upper Tribunal.
(7) In relation to the determination of any such question, the provisions of section 4 of the Land Compensation Act 1961 shall apply subject to any necessary modifications and to the provisions of any regulations made under this Act.
(1) If any person contravenes a stop notice after a site notice has been displayed or the stop notice has been served on him he shall be guilty of an offence.
(1A) An offence under this section may be charged by reference to any day or longer period of time and a person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offence under this section by reference to any period of time following the preceding conviction for such an offence.
(1B) References in this section to contravening a stop notice include causing or permitting its contravention.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
(2A) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under this section, the court shall in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to him in consequence of the offence.
(3) In proceedings for an offence under this section it shall be a defence for the accused to prove—
(a) that the stop notice was not served on him, and
(b) that he did not know, and could not reasonably have been expected to know, of its existence.
(1) This section applies where planning permission for carrying out any development of land has been granted subject to conditions.
(2) The local planning authority may, if any of the conditions is not complied with, serve a notice (in this Act referred to as a “breach of condition notice”) on—
(a) any person who is carrying out or has carried out the development; or
(b) any person having control of the land,
requiring him to secure compliance with such of the conditions as are specified in the notice.
(3) References in this section to the person responsible are to the person on whom the breach of condition notice has been served.
(4) The conditions which may be specified in a notice served by virtue of subsection (2)(b) are any of the conditions regulating the use of the land.
(5) A breach of condition notice shall specify the steps which the authority consider ought to be taken, or the activities which the authority consider ought to cease, to secure compliance with the conditions specified in the notice.
(6) The authority may by notice served on the person responsible withdraw the breach of condition notice, but its withdrawal shall not affect the power to serve on him a further breach of condition notice in respect of the conditions specified in the earlier notice or any other conditions.
(7) The period allowed for compliance with the notice is—
(a) such period of not less than twenty-eight days beginning with the date of service of the notice as may be specified in the notice; or
(b) that period as extended by a further notice served by the local planning authority on the person responsible.
(8) If, at any time after the end of the period allowed for compliance with the notice—
(a) any of the conditions specified in the notice is not complied with; and
(b) the steps specified in the notice have not been taken or, as the case may be, the activities specified in the notice have not ceased,
the person responsible is in breach of the notice.
(9) If the person responsible is in breach of the notice he shall be guilty of an offence.
(10) An offence under subsection (9) may be charged by reference to any day or longer period of time and a person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offence under that subsection by reference to any period of time following the preceding conviction for such an offence.
(11) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (9) to prove—
(a) that he took all reasonable measures to secure compliance with the conditions specified in the notice; or
(b) where the notice was served on him by virtue of subsection (2)(b), that he no longer had control of the land.
(12) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (9) shall be liable on summary conviction—
(a) to a fine, if the land is in England, or
(b) to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, if the land is in Wales.
(13) In this section—
(a) “conditions” includes limitations; and
(b) references to carrying out any development include causing or permitting another to do so.
187B Injunctions restraining breaches of planning control.
(1) Where a local planning authority consider it necessary or expedient for any actual or apprehended breach of planning control to be restrained by injunction, they may apply to the court for an injunction, whether or not they have exercised or are proposing to exercise any of their other powers under this Part.
(2) On an application under subsection (1) the court may grant such an injunction as the court thinks appropriate for the purpose of restraining the breach.
(3) Rules of court may provide for such an injunction to be issued against a person whose identity is unknown.
(4) In this section “the court” means the High Court or the county court.
188 Register of enforcement and stop notices and other enforcement action.
(1) Every district planning authority , every local planning authority for an area in Wales and the council of every metropolitan district or London borough shall keep, in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order, a register containing such information as may be so prescribed with respect—
(za) to planning enforcement orders,
(zb) to enforcement warning notices under section 172ZA (enforcement warning notice: England),
(a) to enforcement notices; . . .
(aa) to enforcement warning notices under section 173ZA (enforcement warning notice: Wales),
(b) to stop notices, and
(c) to breach of condition notices
which relate to land in their area.
(2) A development order may make provision—
(a) for the entry relating to any planning enforcement order, enforcement notice, enforcement warning notice under section 172ZA or 173ZA, stop notice or breach of condition notice, and everything relating to any planning enforcement order or any such notice, to be removed from the register in such circumstances as may be specified in the development order; and
(b) for requiring a county planning authority to supply to a district planning authority such information as may be so specified with regard to enforcement notices and enforcement warning notices under section 172ZA issued and stop notices and breach of condition notices served by , and planning enforcement orders made on applications made by, the county planning authority.
(3) Every register kept under this section shall be available for inspection by the public at all reasonable hours.
(4) In this section “planning enforcement order” means an order under section 171BA(1).
189 Penalties for contravention of orders under s. 102 and Schedule 9.
(1) Any person who without planning permission—
(a) uses land, or causes or permits land to be used—
(i) for any purpose for which an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 has required that its use shall be discontinued; or
(ii) in contravention of any condition imposed by such an order by virtue of subsection (1) of that section or, as the case may be, sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph; or
(b) resumes, or causes or permits to be resumed, development consisting of the winning and working of minerals or involving the depositing of mineral waste the the resumption of which an order under paragraph 3 of that Schedule has prohibited; or
(c) contravenes, or causes or permits to be contravened, any such requirement as is specified in sub-paragraph (3) or (4) of that paragraph,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Any person who contravenes any requirement of an order under paragraph 5 or 6 of that Schedule or who causes or permits any requirement of such an order to be contravened shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) Any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; and
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he took all reasonable measures and exercised all due diligence to avoid commission of the offence by himself or by any person under his control.
(5) If in any case the defence provided by subsection (4) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person or due to reliance on information supplied by another person, the person charged shall not, without the leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence unless, within a period ending seven clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice in writing giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the other person as was then in his possession.
190 Enforcement of orders under s. 102 and Schedule 9.
(1) This section applies where—
(a) any step required by an order under section 102 or paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 to be taken for the alteration or removal of any buildings or works or any plant or machinery;
(b) any step required by an order under paragraph 3 of that Schedule to be taken—
(i) for the alteration or removal of plant or machinery; or
(ii) for the removal or alleviation of any injury to amenity; or
(c) any step for the protection of the environment required to be taken by an order under paragraph 5 or 6 of that Schedule,
has not been taken within the period specified in the order or within such extended period as the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the mineral planning authority may allow.
(2) Where this section applies the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the mineral planning authority may enter the land and take the required step.
(3) Where the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the mineral planning authority have exercised their power under subsection (2) they may recover from the person who is then the owner of the land any expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.
(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(5) Section 276 of the Public Health Act 1936 shall apply in relation to any works executed by an authority under subsection (2) as it applies in relation to works executed by a local authority under that Act.
191 Certificate of lawfulness of existing use or development.
(1) If any person wishes to ascertain whether—
(a) any existing use of buildings or other land is lawful;
(b) any operations which have been carried out in, on, over or under land are lawful; or
(c) any other matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted is lawful,
he may make an application for the purpose to the local planning authority specifying the land and describing the use, operations or other matter.
(2) For the purposes of this Act uses and operations are lawful at any time if—
(a) no enforcement action may then be taken in respect of them (whether because they did not involve development or require planning permission or because the time for enforcement action has expired or for any other reason); and
(b) they do not constitute a contravention of any of the requirements of any enforcement notice then in force.
(3) For the purposes of this Act any matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted is lawful at any time if—
(a) the time for taking enforcement action in respect of the failure has then expired; and
(b) it does not constitute a contravention of any of the requirements of any enforcement notice or breach of condition notice then in force.
(3A) In determining for the purposes of this section whether the time for taking enforcement action in respect of a matter has expired, that time is to be taken not to have expired if—
(a) the time for applying for an order under section 171BA(1) (a “planning enforcement order”) in relation to the matter has not expired,
(b) an application has been made for a planning enforcement order in relation to the matter and the application has neither been decided nor been withdrawn, or
(c) a planning enforcement order has been made in relation to the matter, the order has not been rescinded and the enforcement year for the order (whether or not it has begun) has not expired.
(4) If, on an application under this section, the local planning authority are provided with information satisfying them of the lawfulness at the time of the application of the use, operations or other matter described in the application, or that description as modified by the local planning authority or a description substituted by them, they shall issue a certificate to that effect; and in any other case they shall refuse the application.
(5) A certificate under this section shall—
(a) specify the land to which it relates;
(b) describe the use, operations or other matter in question (in the case of any use falling within one of the classes specified in an order under section 55(2)(f), identifying it by reference to that class);
(c) give the reasons for determining the use, operations or other matter to be lawful; and
(d) specify the date of the application for the certificate.
(6) The lawfulness of any use, operations or other matter for which a certificate is in force under this section shall be conclusively presumed.
(7) A certificate under this section in respect of any use shall also have effect, for the purposes of the following enactments, as if it were a grant of planning permission—
(a) section 3(3) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 or section 7(1) of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013;
(b) section 5(2) of the Control of Pollution Act 1974; and
(c) section 36(2)(a) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
192 Certificate of lawfulness of proposed use or development.
(1) If any person wishes to ascertain whether—
(a) any proposed use of buildings or other land; or
(b) any operations proposed to be carried out in, on, over or under land,
would be lawful, he may make an application for the purpose to the local planning authority specifying the land and describing the use or operations in question.
(2) If, on an application under this section, the local planning authority are provided with information satisfying them that the use or operations described in the application would be lawful if instituted or begun at the time of the application, they shall issue a certificate to that effect; and in any other case they shall refuse the application.
(3) A certificate under this section shall—
(a) specify the land to which it relates;
(b) describe the use or operations in question (in the case of any use falling within one of the classes specified in an order under section 55(2)(f), identifying it by reference to that class);
(c) give the reasons for determining the use or operations to be lawful; and
(d) specify the date of the application for the certificate.
(4) The lawfulness of any use or operations for which a certificate is in force under this section shall be conclusively presumed unless there is a material change, before the use is instituted or the operations are begun, in any of the matters relevant to determining such lawfulness.
193 Certificates under sections 191 and 192: supplementary provisions.
(1) An application for a certificate under section 191 or 192 shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order and shall include such particulars, and be verified by such evidence, as may be required by such an order or by any directions given under such an order or by the local planning authority.
(2) Provision may be made by a development order for regulating the manner in which applications for certificates under those sections are to be dealt with by local planning authorities.
(3) In particular, such an order may provide for requiring the authority—
(a) to give to any applicant within such time as may be prescribed by the order such notice as may be so prescribed as to the manner in which his application has been dealt with; and
(b) to give to the Secretary of State and to such other persons as may be prescribed by or under the order, such information as may be so prescribed with respect to such applications made to the authority, including information as to the manner in which any application has been dealt with.
(4) A certificate under either of those sections may be issued—
(a) for the whole or part of the land specified in the application; and
(b) where the application specifies two or more uses, operations or other matters, for all of them or some one or more of them;
and shall be in such form as may be prescribed by a development order.
(5) A certificate under section 191 or 192 shall not affect any matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted unless that matter is described in the certificate.
(6) In section 69 references to applications for planning permission shall include references to applications for certificates under section 191 or 192.
(7) A local planning authority may revoke a certificate under either of those sections if, on the application for the certificate—
(a) a statement was made or document used which was false in a material particular; or
(b) any material information was withheld.
(8) Provision may be made by a development order for regulating the manner in which certificates may be revoked and the notice to be given of such revocation.
(1) If any person, for the purpose of procuring a particular decision on an application (whether by himself or another) for the issue of a certificate under section 191 or 192—
(a) knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular;
(b) with intent to deceive, uses any document which is false or misleading in a material particular; or
(c) with intent to deceive, withholds any material information,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
(3) Notwithstanding section 127 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, a magistrates’ court may try an information in respect of an offence under subsection (1) whenever laid.
195 Appeals against refusal or failure to give decision on application.
(1) Where an application is made to a local planning authority for a certificate under section 191 or 192 and—
(a) the application is refused or is refused in part, or
(b) the authority do not give notice to the applicant of their decision on the application within such period as may be prescribed by a development order or within such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the authority,
the applicant may by notice appeal to the Secretary of State.
(1B) A notice of appeal under this section must be—
(a) served within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order;
(b) accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by such an order.
(1C) The time prescribed for the service of a notice of appeal under this section must not be less than—
(a) 28 days from the date of notification of the decision on the application; or
(b) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), 28 days from—
(i) the end of the period prescribed as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), or
(ii) as the case may be, the extended period mentioned in subsection (1)(b).
(1D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1DA) Once notice of an appeal under this section to the Welsh Ministers has been served, the application to which it relates may not be varied, except in such circumstances as may be prescribed by a development order.
(1DB) A development order which makes provision under subsection (1DA) must provide for an application which is varied to be subject to such further consultation as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.
(1E) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1F) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) On any such appeal, if and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied—
(a) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(a), that the authority’s refusal is not well-founded, or
(b) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), that if the authority had refused the application their refusal would not have been well-founded,
he shall grant the appellant a certificate under section 191 or, as the case may be, 192 accordingly or, in the case of a refusal in part, modify the certificate granted by the authority on the application.
(3) If and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied that the authority’s refusal is or, as the case may be, would have been well-founded, he shall dismiss the appeal.
(3A) Where the local planning authority referred to in subsection (1) is in England, if at any time before or during the determination of an appeal under subsection (1)(a) or (b) it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, the Secretary of State may—
(a) give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are so specified for the expedition of the appeal, and
(b) if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.
(4) References in this section to a refusal of an application in part include a modification or substitution of the description in the application of the use, operations or other matter in question.
(5) For the purposes of the application in relation to England of section 288(10)(b) sections 196(1A), 288(10)(b) and 319A(7)(d) in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.
(5A) For the purposes of the application in relation to Wales of sections 288(10)(b) and 319B(7)(d) in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.
(6) Schedule 6 applies to appeals under this section.
196 Further provisions as to references and appeals to the Secretary of State.
(1) Before determining . . . an appeal to him under section 195(1), the Secretary of State shall, if either the appellant or the local planning authority so wish, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to an appeal against a decision of a local planning authority in England.
(1B) Subsection (1) does not apply to an appeal to the Welsh Ministers.
(2) Where the Secretary of State grants a certificate under section 191 or 192 on such a reference or an appeal under section 195(1), he shall give notice to the local planning authority of that fact.
(3) The decision of the Secretary of State on such . . . appeal shall be final.
(4) The information which may be prescribed as being required to be contained in a register kept under section 69 shall include information with respect to certificates under section 191 or 192 granted by the Secretary of State.
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(8) Subsection (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (which authorises a Minister holding an inquiry under that section to make orders with respect to the costs of the parties) shall apply in relation to any proceedings in England before the Secretary of State on an appeal under section 195 as if those proceedings were an inquiry held by the Secretary of State under section 250.
(1) Any person duly authorised in writing by a local planning authority may at any reasonable hour enter any land—
(a) to ascertain whether there is or has been any breach of planning control on the land or any other land;
(b) to determine whether any of the powers conferred on a local planning authority by this Part should be exercised in relation to the land or any other land;
(c) to determine how any such power should be exercised in relation to the land or any other land;
(d) to ascertain whether there has been compliance with any requirement imposed as a result of any such power having been exercised in relation to the land or any other land,
if there are reasonable grounds for entering for the purpose in question.
(2) Any person duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may at any reasonable hour enter any land to determine whether an enforcement notice should be issued in relation to the land or any other land, if there are reasonable grounds for entering for that purpose.
(3) The Secretary of State shall not so authorise any person without consulting the local planning authority.
(4) Admission to any building used as a dwellinghouse shall not be demanded as of right by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) unless twenty-four hours’ notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier of the building.
(1) If it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace on sworn information in writing—
(a) that there are reasonable grounds for entering any land for any of the purposes mentioned in section 196A(1) or (2); and
(b) that—
(i) admission to the land has been refused, or a refusal is reasonably apprehended; or
(ii) the case is one of urgency,
the justice may issue a warrant authorising any person duly authorised in writing by a local planning authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State to enter the land.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b)(i) admission to land shall be regarded as having been refused if no reply is received to a request for admission within a reasonable period.
(3) A warrant authorises entry on one occasion only and that entry must be—
(a) within one month from the date of the issue of the warrant; and
(b) at a reasonable hour, unless the case is one of urgency.
(1) A person authorised to enter any land in pursuance of a right of entry conferred under or by virtue of section 196A or 196B (referred to in this section as “a right of entry”)—
(a) shall, if so required, produce evidence of his authority and state the purpose of his entry before so entering;
(b) may take with him such other persons as may be necessary; and
(c) on leaving the land shall, if the owner or occupier is not then present, leave it as effectively secured against trespassers as he found it.
(2) Any person who wilfully obstructs a person acting in the exercise of a right of entry shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(3) If any damage is caused to land or chattels in the exercise of a right of entry, compensation may be recovered by any person suffering the damage from the authority who gave the written authority for the entry or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State.
(4) The provisions of section 118 shall apply in relation to compensation under subsection (3) as they apply in relation to compensation under Part IV.
(5) If any person who enters any land, in exercise of a right of entry, discloses to any person any information obtained by him while on the land as to any manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the disclosure is made by a person in the course of performing his duty in connection with the purpose for which he was authorised to enter the land.
(7) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (5) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both.
(8) In sections 196A and 196B and this section references to a local planning authority include, in relation to a building situated in Greater London, a reference to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England.
196D Offence of failing to obtain planning permission for demolition of unlisted etc buildings in conservation areas in England
(1) It is an offence for a person to carry out or cause or permit to be carried out relevant demolition without the required planning permission.
(2) It is also an offence for a person to fail to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission for relevant demolition is granted.
(3) In this section “relevant demolition” means the demolition of a building that—
(a) is situated in a conservation area in England; and
(b) is not a building to which section 74 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 does not apply by virtue of section 75 of that Act (listed buildings, certain ecclesiastical buildings, scheduled monuments and buildings described in a direction of the Secretary of State under that section).
(4) It is a defence for a person accused of an offence under this section to prove the following matters—
(a) that the relevant demolition was urgently necessary in the interests of safety or health;
(b) that it was not practicable to secure safety or health by works of repair or works for affording temporary support or shelter;
(c) that the relevant demolition was the minimum measure necessary; and
(d) that notice in writing of the relevant demolition was given to the local planning authority as soon as reasonably practicable.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine or both.
(6) In relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022, subsection (5)(a) has effect as if the reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court were to 6 months.
(7) In relation to an offence committed before the coming into force of section 85(1) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, subsection (5)(a) has effect as if the reference to a fine were a reference to a fine not exceeding £20,000.
(8) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under this section, the court must in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to that person in consequence of the offence.
(9) Where, after a person commits an offence under this section, planning permission is granted for any development carried out before the grant of the permission, that grant does not affect the person's liability for the offence.
196E Power to provide relief from enforcement of planning conditions
(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations provide that a local planning authority in England may not take, or is subject to specified restrictions in how it may take, relevant enforcement measures in relation to any actual or apparent failure to comply with a relevant planning condition.
(2) The Secretary of State may make regulations under subsection (1) only if the Secretary of State considers that it is appropriate to make the regulations for the purposes of national defence or preventing or responding to civil emergency or significant disruption to the economy of the United Kingdom or any part of the United Kingdom.
(3) The power in subsection (1) may only be exercised in respect of an actual or apparent failure which occurs during a specified period of not more than one year (the “relief period”) or which is apprehended during the relief period to so occur (but see subsections (7) and (8)).
(4) A “relevant enforcement measure” is anything which may be done by a local planning authority in England for the purposes of investigating, preventing, remedying or penalising an actual or apparent failure to comply with a relevant planning condition.
(5) A relevant enforcement measure includes, in particular—
(a) the exercise of a power under—
(i) section 171BA (power to apply for planning enforcement order);
(ii) section 187B (power to apply to court for injunction);
(iii) section 196A (power to enter without a warrant);
(iv) section 196B (power to apply for, and enter under, warrant);
(b) the issue of—
(i) a planning contravention notice under section 171C,
(ii) a temporary stop notice under section 171E,
(iii) an enforcement notice under section 172,
(iv) an enforcement warning notice under section 172ZA,
(v) a stop notice under section 183, or
(vi) a breach of condition notice under section 187A.
(6) A “relevant planning condition” is a condition or limitation subject to which planning permission for development of land in England is granted, but does not include a condition under—
(a) section 90A and Schedule 7A (condition relating to biodiversity gain);
(b) section 90B (condition relating to development progress reports);
(c) section 91 (condition limiting duration of planning permission);
(d) section 92 (conditions for outline planning permission).
(7) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision as to the treatment of an actual or apparent failure to comply with a relevant planning condition, which—
(a) starts before, but continues after, the start of the relief period, or
(b) starts during, but continues after, that period.
(8) Regulations under subsection (1) may provide that an actual or apparent failure to comply with a relevant planning condition is not to be treated as occurring during the relief period, if the failure—
(a) occurs wholly during the period, and
(b) is not remedied by a specified time after the period.
(9) Regulations under subsection (1) may make provision that, where anything relating to the taking of a relevant enforcement measure is to be or may be done by a time during the relief period, it is to be or may be instead done by a specified time after that period.
(10) Regulations under subsection (1) may—
(a) apply in relation to all, or only specified, local planning authorities in England;
(b) apply in relation to all, or only specified, relevant planning conditions;
(c) apply in relation to all, or only specified, relevant enforcement measures;
(d) prevent the taking of relevant enforcement measures indefinitely or only for a specified period of time.
(11) In this section, “specified” means specified or described in regulations under subsection (1).
197 Planning permission to include appropriate provision for preservation and planting of trees.
It shall be the duty of the local planning authority—
(a) to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting planning permission for any development adequate provision is made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees; and
(b) to make such orders under section 198 as appear to the authority to be necessary in connection with the grant of such permission, whether for giving effect to such conditions or otherwise.
Nothing in this section applies in relation to neighbourhood development orders.
(1) If it appears to a local planning authority that it is expedient in the interests of amenity to make provision for the preservation of trees or woodlands in their area, they may for that purpose make an order with respect to such trees, groups of trees or woodlands as may be specified in the order.
(2) An order under subsection (1) is in this Act referred to as a “tree preservation order”.
(3) A tree preservation order may, in particular, make provision—
(a) for prohibiting (subject to any exemptions for which provision may be made by the order) the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees except with the consent of the local planning authority, and for enabling that authority to give their consent subject to conditions;
(b) for securing the replanting, in such manner as may be prescribed by or under the order, of any part of a woodland area which is felled in the course of forestry operations permitted by or under the order;
(c) for applying, in relation to any consent under the order, and to applications for such consent, any of the provisions of this Act mentioned in subsection (4), subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the order.
(4) The provisions referred to in subsection (3)(c) are—
(a) the provisions of Part III relating to planning permission and to applications for planning permission, except sections 56, 62, 65 . . ., 69(3) and (4), 71, . . ., 91 to 96, 100 and 101 and Schedule 8; and
(b) sections 137 to 141, 143 and 144 (except so far as they relate to purchase notices served in consequence of such orders as are mentioned in section 137(1)(b) or (c));
(c) section 316.
(5) A tree preservation order may be made so as to apply, in relation to trees to be planted pursuant to any such conditions as are mentioned in section 197(a), as from the time when those trees are planted.
(6) Without prejudice to any other exemptions for which provision may be made by a tree preservation order, no such order shall apply—
(a) to the cutting down, uprooting, topping or lopping of trees which are dying or dead or have become dangerous, or
(b) to the cutting down, uprooting, topping or lopping of any trees in compliance with any obligations imposed by or under an Act of Parliament or so far as may be necessary for the prevention or abatement of a nuisance.
(7) This section Tree preservation regulations shall have effect subject to—
(a) section 39(2) of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 (saving for effect of section 2(4) of the Opencast Coal Act 1958 on land affected by a tree preservation order despite its repeal); and
(b) section 15 of the Forestry Act 1967 (licences under that Act to fell trees comprised in a tree preservation order).
(8) In relation to an application for consent under a tree preservation order the appropriate authority may by regulations make provision as to—
(a) the form and manner in which the application must be made;
(b) particulars of such matters as are to be included in the application;
(c) the documents or other materials as are to accompany the application.
(9) The appropriate authority is—
(a) the Secretary of State in relation to England;
(b) the National Assembly for Wales in relation to Wales,
and in the case of regulations made by the National Assembly for Wales section 333(3) must be ignored.
(1) A tree preservation order shall not take effect until it is confirmed by the local planning authority and the local planning authority may confirm any such order either without modification or subject to such modifications as they consider expedient.
(2) Provision may be made by regulations under this Act with respect—
(a) to the form of tree preservation orders, and
(b) to the procedure to be followed in connection with the making and confirmation of such orders.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), the regulations may make provision—
(a) that, before a tree preservation order is confirmed by the local planning authority, notice of the making of the order shall be given to the owners and occupiers of land affected by the order and to such other persons, if any, as may be specified in the regulations;
(b) that objections and representations with respect to the order, if duly made in accordance with the regulations, shall be considered before the order is confirmed by the local planning authority; and
(c) that copies of the order, when confirmed by the authority, shall be served on such persons as may be specified in the regulations.
200 Tree preservation orders: Forestry Commissioners and Natural Resources Body for Wales
(1) A tree preservation order does not Tree preservation regulations do not have effect in respect of anything done—
(a) by or on behalf of the Forestry Commissioners or the Natural Resources Body for Wales on land placed at their disposal in pursuance of the Forestry Act 1967 or otherwise under their management or supervision;
(b) by or on behalf of any other person in accordance with a relevant plan which is for the time being in force.
(2) A relevant plan is a plan of operations or other working plan approved by the Forestry Commissioners or the Natural Resources Body for Wales under—
(a) a forestry dedication covenant within the meaning of section 5 of the Forestry Act 1967, or
(b) conditions of a grant or loan made by the Forestry Commissioners under section 1 of the Forestry Act 1979 or made by the Natural Resources Body for Wales under article 10B of the Natural Resources Body for Wales (Establishment) Order 2012 (S.I.2012/1903) for or in connection with the use or management of land for forestry purposes.
(3) A reference to a provision of the Forestry Act 1967 or the Forestry Act 1979 includes a reference to a corresponding provision replaced by that provision or any earlier corresponding provision.