How can Planning Enforcement help you?

Most development requires planning permission. It is our aim to make sure that all development in the Borough is legal and has the right permission.

We will investigate all potential breaches of planning control with the exception of:

• minor or technical breaches of control which causes no material harm or adverse impact on the amenity of the site or the surrounding area;
• Development that is acceptable on its planning merits and formal enforcement action would solely be to regularise the development;
• That an application is the appropriate way forward to regularise the situation, for example, where planning conditions may need to be imposed;
• In the case of the 'Grotbusters' scheme, where there are no public views of the areas raised in the complaint;
• Anonymous complaints.

Once a complaint is registered, we will aim to update you at key stages of the case, those being:

• After a site visit
• If we receive a planning application 
• If a decision is made on the planning application
• If we serve an enforcement notice
• If an appeal is received against the enforcement notice
• If we decide to take no further action on your complaint
• When the case is closed

We will operate our enforcement activities within government guidelines and in accordance with council policy:

• Hastings Borough Council Planning Enforcement Policy (69KB.pdf)

If your complaint is about noise, please contact our Environmental Health Team.