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ENFORCEMENT NOTICES
DEFENCE AGAINST ENFORCEMENT ACTION
There
are certain circumstances in which you may find that your position is protected
against enforcement action.
The
Grounds of Appeal against an Enforcement Notice [link] provide various reasons for a defence,
but in one case the defence is that:-
Ground d)
That at the time the enforcement notice was issued it was
too late to take enforcement action against the matters stated in the notice.
The
Town & Country Planning Act 1990 introduced new criteria for the period
after which enforcement action is not possible against a breach of planning
control.
THE
4 YEAR RULE
Any
building, engineering or other works which have taken place without the benefit
of planning permission, and that have remained unchallenged by enforcement
action for 4 years or more, cannot be enforced against. So the erection of a
building which goes undetected for 4 years will be allowed to remain.
However,
the use of the building may not.
THE
10 YEAR RULE
Any
change in the Use of land and buildings must have existed for in excess of 10
years before it can be protected from enforcement action. Therefore you may
have a perfectly adequate building but no lawful use for it.
Similarly,
the ten-year immunity rule applies to breaches of planning conditions (4 years
for breaches relating to the use as a single dwellinghouse). Any breach of
condition that occurred more than 10 years before the date on which the Council
first takes enforcement action against that breach and which has remained
continuously in breach over that period may then benefit from immunity.
EVIDENCE
In
all cases if challenged you will need to produce sufficient evidence to prove,
to the satisfaction of the Council, that the breach has occurred for longer
than the appropriate period, without significant changes or breaks in the
period of use.
This
is one reason for undertaking proper planning searches before you purchase a
property or business. What may appear to be a well-established operation may
not enjoy the benefit of a lawful planning permission and you could find
yourself open to enforcement action if you cannot prove the position.
If
you can adequately prove the breach then an application for a Lawful
Development Certificate
will provide you with a tangible proof of lawfulness for the future.
You are recommended to take professional advice before you
initiate any action in this regard.