Breaches of planning
Our Planning Enforcement Officers are responsible for investigating possible breaches of planning control. View more information on planning enforcement on the GOV.UK website.
Time limits
A breach of planning control becomes immune from enforcement action if the local planning authority has failed to take formal enforcement action against it within the time limits set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The relevant time limit is now 10 years beginning with the date on which the operations were substantially completed. This applies to all breaches of planning control.
However, if the substantial completion was prior to 25 April 2024, the previous time limits will still apply:
- 4 years from the substantial completion of operational development and from the change of use of any building to a single dwelling house, including use as flats
- 10 years for all other breaches i.e. change of use or breach of conditions other than those related to single dwelling houses.
There are no time limits laid down in relation to operational works to a listed building.
View a planning enforcement appeal
The easiest way to view a planning enforcement appeal is through planning online, our database for planning applications.
You can view a planning application and appeals and associated documents without an account.
How to report a breach of planning control
You can report an alleged breach of planning control by reporting it online, by email, in writing, or in person at our offices. Please provide as much information as possible when you report a breach to us.
Report breach of planning control
We reserve the right to refuse to accept anonymous complaints.
Our contact details are:
Enforcement and Monitoring Officer
South Ribble Borough Council
Civic Centre
West Paddock
Leyland
PR25 1DH
e-mail: planning@southribble.gov.uk
Telephone: 01772 625625
We store the details of any complainant securely and confidentially, you can view more information on our Privacy Notice.
More information
We have produced a planning enforcement policy which gives full details of how the service operates and what you can expect from it.