A breach of planning control is where building work or changes to land or property are carried out without the correct planning permission or not following the conditions of the planning permission they’ve been granted. For example, they may be:
building an extension
changing the use of a building
doing works to a listed building
demolishing a building or wall in a conservation area
putting up unauthorised adverts
working on protected trees
You can find out more details about breaches in our Enforcement Plan.
If you think someone is breaching planning control, you can report it to us.
Before reporting a breach
Check whether the work has been given planning permission by searching for planning decisions.
Some types of building works do not require planning permission. Use our online tool to check if permission is needed before you make a report.
How to report a breach
You can report a breach by completing our enforcement complaint form. In your report, you must tell us:
your name, address and contact details
the address where the breach is taking place
what works you are reporting
when it started
photos of the work, if possible
We’ll respond to you within 5 working days to confirm your report has been received.
What happens next
Our Enforcement Plan sets out our processes for handling investigations into alleged breaches of planning control. It’s been written to help everyone understand the steps involved in the enforcement process.
After we receive a report, we make an initial assessment, which might include a visit to find out if a breach has taken place. We aim to find out if:
development has taken place
the development breaches planning rules
it can be resolved through negotiation
the breach is causing harm
a retrospective planning application should be invited
formal enforcement is necessary
We aim to visit on the next working day if the suspected breach involves:
works to listed buildings
demolition works
damage to protected trees
We aim to visit within 10 working days if building works are in progress and causing significant harm. All other reports will be visited within 15 working days.
If we find there is a breach, the case will be given to a Planning Enforcement Officer, who’ll manage any further investigation and outcomes. They’ll make contact with those doing the work within one week.
Find out more about how we enforce breaches of planning control.
How to make a complaint about a Construction Management Plan
We use Construction Management Plans (CMP) to minimise the impact of construction. If you believe a construction site is not following its approved CMP, you can let us know by email at planning@camden.gov.uk - include the site address, a brief description of the issue, and any supporting details or evidence. We'll review your complaint and take appropriate action where necessary.