There are certain building works that can be undertaken without having to apply for planning permission.
This is called permitted development as defined in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.
The Planning Portal website has simple visual guides that outline issues with common household development projects such as external lighting, burglar alarms or housing extensions as well as internal work such as boilers and wiring
Planning enforcement objectives
We aim to:
- promote compliance with planning requirements
- remedy the undesirable effects of unauthorised development
- bring unauthorised activity under control to maintain the credibility and achieve the purpose, of the planning system
- strike an acceptable balance between protecting the amenity of the citizens of Cambridge and other interests of acknowledged importance, and allowing development to take place
- provide a service that will pursue pro-active initiatives that would improve the environment and built heritage, safeguard the amenities of the area and support the policies of the development plan
How planning enforcement objectives are achieved
We aim for the service to be proactive, effective, fair and responsive in the prevention and control of unauthorised development.
We use effective monitoring procedures to ensure development is carried out in accordance with planning approvals.
Read our planning enforcement policy.
Defining a breach of planning control
A breach of planning control is defined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as the carrying out of a development without the required planning permission, or failing to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted.
Breaches of planning control occur in many ways and an enforcement complaint can be made when:
- building work, engineering operations and material changes of use are carried out without planning permission having been granted.
- development has planning permission but is not carried out in accordance with the approved plans.
- failure to comply with conditions of the terms of a legal agreement (S106 obligations) attached to a permission or consent
- demolition takes place in conservation areas - without conservation area consent - when it is required
- works carried out to a ‘listed’ building, which affect the historic character or setting, without listed building consent being granted
- removal of, or works carried out, to protected trees and hedgerows without consent being granted or proper notification given
- advertisements that require express consent under the advertisement regulations, which are displayed without consent
- flyposting
- failure to comply with the requirements of a planning legal notice - for example, a planning enforcement notice, a planning contravention notice, a breach of condition notice, or stop notice
It should be noted that it is not an offence to carry out development without planning permission.
An offence will only occur if the development involves unauthorised advertisements, works to protected trees or listed buildings, or if a formal notice has been served but has not been complied with.
When development has been undertaken without planning permission, it cannot be assumed that retrospective planning permission will always be granted for that development.
Please refer to the bottom of this webpage for more information about confidentiality.
How to make a complaint or report a suspected breach
Most investigations into breaches of planning control result from complaints received from members of the public or from councillors. You can email a complaint to us using the email address below.
Alternatively we can be contacted by letter, telephone, email or in person.
Written complaints are preferred as this avoids ambiguity and provides us with an accurate basis on which to proceed with an investigation. Write to:
Planning Investigation Team
Environment
and Planning
Cambridge City Council
PO Box
700
Cambridge, CB1 0JH
Email planning.devcontrol@cambridge.gov.uk
Telephone 01223 457154 or 01223 457163
It is advisable to make an appointment if the complaint is to be made to the investigation team in person.
We will need the following information:
- the precise location of the site or property to which the complaint relates
- the exact nature of concern - for example, the potential breach of planning control
- an indication of any harm caused by the breach
- how long has the activity been undertaken
In addition, it would be helpful to provide information on the identity of the person or organisation responsible and the date when the breach began.
Confidentiality
All investigations are carried out on a strictly confidential basis and the investigation team will not reveal the complainant's details.
On serious breaches of planning control - which may warrant prosecution, or result in an appeal - the complainant may be invited to give a witness statement.
However, such occasions are rare and involvement in those cases is on a voluntary basis.
Anonymous complaints
Unless the complainant has a reason for not giving their details, and explains this to the investigating officer, anonymous complaints will not normally be investigated.
