Planning enforcement​

The council’s planning enforcement team is responsible for investigating reports of breaches in planning control and monitoring development that has received planning permission, to ensure compliance with planning conditions.

The team has a wide range of powers which can be exercised where a breach of planning control has taken place if it is in the public interest to take action.  

The team is essential to ensuring that the credibility of the planning system is not undermined. 

Planning enforcement policy

Planning enforcement in East Cambridgeshire is undertaken in accordance with the council's Corporate Enforcement Protocol.


Our Local Enforcement Plan outlines how the council's planning enforcement team operates and explains more about their role within the Local Planning Authority. 


Breach of planning control

There are several works that would be regarded as a breach of planning control, including:

  • development being undertaken without planning permission
  • development that was approved subject to conditions but one or more of those conditions is not being complied with
  • the unauthorised change of use of land or buildings
  • unauthorised works to a listed building
  • unauthorised works to a protected tree
  • unauthorised advertisements 

Reporting a breach

If you think any development or work being carried out in the district could be a breach of planning control, you should contact the planning enforcement team as soon as possible:

To avoid malicious complaints, anonymous allegations of breaches of planning control are not normally investigated. You should, however, be aware that when you make a report your personal details will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Please see our Privacy Notice. 

Should you feel uncomfortable providing your personal details, we recommend you approach your parish council or local councillor, who can report the breach of planning control on your behalf.

Complaining about an enforcement investigation

If you are not satisfied with how we have dealt with a planning enforcement matter, please contact the planning enforcement team leader in the first instance to discuss your concerns. If you are still unhappy with the outcome, you can find information on how to make a formal complaint in the council's complaints procedure.

In some cases, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) about how a Local Planning Authority handled a planning enforcement investigation. However, the LGO is unable to investigate a complaint just because you do not agree with the decision taken and they have no power to alter a decision. 

Enforcement register

We are required to keep a register of all Enforcement Notices served and make this register available to the public. 

If you would like to view a copy of a specific notice, please contact bcplcopies@eastcambs.gov.uk