Planning Enforcement

The Planning Enforcement Team investigates reports of unauthorised development and ensures that planning permissions and conditions are followed. The team aims to resolve issues proportionately and fairly, focusing on harm to public amenity.

Report a suspected breach

If you believe development is taking place without permission or contrary to approved plans, you can report it online.

Before you report

To help us investigate quickly and effectively, please ensure you have:

The exact address/location of the site
A description of the issue and why you believe it is a breach
Dates/times when activity began (if known)
Photographs, if safe to obtain
If possible the identity of the person/organisation responsible for the alleged breach when the alleged breach began

You’ll also be asked for your name and address, which will be held in confidence and not disclosed. If you wish to remain anonymous you should submit your complaint through your local councillor or parish council.

In the event of the matter proceeding to an appeal or to court you may be asked to give evidence, and we will not be able to withhold your details.

Once a breach of planning control has been identified it can be a lengthy process to resolve. We’ll always try to keep you informed of the outcome of any case you report and you can contact us at any time.

What counts as a planning breach?

Examples of breaches:

Building works carried out without planning permission
Development not built in accordance with the approved plans
Unauthorised change of use of buildings or land
Breach of planning conditions
Works to listed buildings without consent
Works to trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order or within a Conservation Area

These are not planning breaches:

Boundary or land ownership disputes
Private covenants or deeds
Noise, odour, or nuisance (Environmental Health issue)
Parking disputes

If you are unsure whether permission was granted, check the Public Access Register.

What happens after your report?

We follow a structured process to ensure fairness and proportionality:

Acknowledge your report
Response times may be delayed during high workload periods.
Initial assessment
We determine whether the issue appears to be a breach.
Site visit
Priority based (see below).
Negotiation
Many cases are resolved informally or through a retrospective planning application.
Formal enforcement action
If necessary, we may serve an Enforcement Notice requiring corrective steps.
Prosecution
If a notice is ignored, it becomes a criminal offence.

How we prioritise cases

Some neighbouring councils clearly define priority levels (e.g., Ashfield’s system includes high‑priority cases such as works to listed buildings requiring responses within 1 day).

Adopting a similar model, Bassetlaw’s could highlight the departments priority list.

Very high
High priority
Medium priority
Low priority

Enforcement register

We maintain a register of all enforcement notices issued.

Currently available for public viewing at Queen’s Buildings by appointment.

Contact us

Planning Enforcement Team
Queen’s Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop
Email: planningenforcement@bassetlaw.gov.uk

Last Updated on Monday, March 23, 2026