Report a breach of planning control

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You can report a breach of planning permission to us, and we will investigate.

We investigate:

• building or engineering works that do not have planning permission
• change of use of land or buildings that does not have planning permission
• failure to comply with planning conditions attached to a planning permission
• unauthorised works to listed buildings
• unauthorised works to protected trees
• land or buildings which are harming the appearance of the local area
• unlawful display of advertisements

We do not investigate:

• land ownership, as that is managed by the Land Registry
• anonymous complaints, which is explained in our Development Management Enforcement Plan 
• party walls and boundary fence disputes, as this is explained on the Planning Portal
• complaints relating to roads, traffic or footpaths, as this is dealt with by Essex County Council's Highways Authority

A complaint about noise, light, odour, bonfires or pests are not planning enforcement issues, but you can report a public health issue to us. 

You can find more information about breaches of planning permission on the Planning Portal.