Planning enforcement

Examples include:

• Where land or buildings are developed, including the change of use of land or buildings without the appropriate planning permission (should planning permission be required)
• Where planning permission has been granted but the development does not comply with that permission
• Where works are carried out to a listed building without listed building consent.
• Where a building is demolished in a conservation area without consent
• Where signs or advertisements requiring advertisement consent are displayed without that consent
• Felling of or works to a tree(s) covered by a Tree Preservation Order or those within a conservation area, without the necessary consent

Most breaches of planning control are not criminal offences. However, in the following cases criminal offences may be committed:

• Carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building
• Displaying certain advertisements without consent
• Unauthorised works to protected trees

• Neighbour disputes
• Boundary or land ownership disputes
• Works to party walls (shared walls between attached buildings)
• Fly-tipping
• Development on highways or pavements
• Dangerous structures
• Restrictions imposed by deeds of covenant
• Vehicles causing an obstruction on the highway

If you think there's been a breach of planning legislation, you can report a suspected breach using the online form.

To help us deal with your complaint you should provide us with as much information as possible including:

• your name address and telephone number
• The address of the site or location where the breach has occurred
  Please note: We require a full address including house number. If the breach relates to a piece of land, we need an exact location, such as "behind number 2 Main Street", or "at the junction of road X and Y". We will not be able to investigate the breach if we are unable to identify the location, so please give as much detail as possible.
• the landowner or occupier's name and contact details where known
• a description of the alleged breach
• what harm the breach is causing
• the date you became aware of the breach

We will not normally investigate anonymous complaints unless it appears to us that a serious breach is occurring.

All complaints are treated as confidential and your personal details will never be disclosed to third parties without your consent.

To assist with how we operate the planning enforcement role of the Local Planning Authority, and make clear what people should be able to expect, more information regarding how complaints are investigated can be found in our planning enforcement manual.

If you believe there's been a violation of a planning condition, or that any unauthorised development has taken place, you can make a confidential complaint to the council's Planning Department by one of the following methods:

• Phone: 01642 729377
• Email: planningenforcement@middlesbrough.gov.uk