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• Enforcement / complaints

Planning Enforcement

The City Council investigates about 800 possible breaches of planning control each year. The majority of  these works do not involve any breach of the planning regulations and many are resolved through negotiation. However a small number (between 10-20 each year) require formal legal action to ensure a use ceases, building works are removed or a development is undertaken in accordance with any approved plans.

The formal process involved to resolve a breach of the planning regulations requires the local planning authority to serve an enforcement notice on any person who has a vested interest in the land. This notice will require that within a specified time period certain actions (including in some cases demolition) shall be undertaken to overcome the harm that is being caused by the unauthorised works or uses. Those persons on which the notice is served may within a prescribed period appeal against the requirements specified in the notice and until such time as the outcome of that appeal is known the requirements of the notice are held in abeyance.

Any appeal is heard by an Inspector nominated by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. He/she will either uphold the notice (support the planning authority), amend the notice to alter the work required to overcome the breach or change the time for compliance, or dismiss the notice and in appropriate cases grant planning permission for the development.

Where a notice is upheld or amended failure to comply with the requirements of the notice will become an offence and court action can result.

All enforcement notices must be placed on the planning register (the record of all decisions made and actions undertaken under the planning regulations) and made available for inspection. You can view details of all enforcment notices online at Coventry's Planning Portal or by viewing the paper register held at the Planning Advisory Desk at the address provided below.

This information is provided in good faith. If you are in any doubt about a property and  or any breaches of planning control we would always advise that you contact us with details (using the contact details provided) and we will investigate any enforcement history.

In all cases the information should not be used as a replacement for a formal property search

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