A Visit from the Planning Enforcement Officer

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Charles Holt (Lincoln)

If you erect a building, install a farm track, or make a substantial change to your property without planning permission, you risk a visit from a planning enforcement officer. If you are on bad terms with your neighbours, it multiplies the chances of a report to enforcement by many times. Sometimes neighbours just love to cause trouble.

I frequently work for farmers and rural business owners who have had a visit from planning enforcement. On occasions, my details have been passed to the farmer by the enforcement officer, as someone who can help the applicant out of their problem. 

It’s often the case that a planning application is required, and I need to show how the application is actually fully justified. Objections may be lodged by the neighbours, which may or may not be reasonable. So, it’s often a matter of negotiation, sound argument, and a level of diplomacy that is needed.

Plainly the application may go on to be refused by the planning authority, and a planning appeal may be necessary. But hopefully it is a matter of submitting a well-constructed and appropriate planning application.

The important thing is to not ignore a visit from the enforcement team. This can lead to further enforcement action, which can only be resolved by an enforcement appeal. This is more expensive, and more hassle. So, act quickly and decisively by instructing an appropriate agent to try to resolve the case with you, before you get in even more trouble. 

For any queries regarding planning, please contact Charles Holt at charlesholt@fcgagric.com or your local FCG office.

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