We are setting out how the council will approach alleged cases of unauthorised development, including what is investigated, how it is investigated and when it is appropriate to take action.

We have published a new draft Planning Enforcement Plan for public consultation.

The enforcement plan will provide information and guidance for residents, developers and those with other interests, on how complaints about unauthorised development are handled. It seeks to balance the concerns of local residents with the rights of owners and sets out the priorities and timescales for responding to complaints, carrying out investigations and taking appropriate enforcement action where necessary.

Councillor David Reeve, Chair of the Licensing & Planning Policy Committee, explained “Although planning enforcement is not a mandatory council function, effective planning enforcement is important to maintain public confidence in the planning system.

“The council is seeking to fully understand the areas of planning enforcement that are of concern to local residents. This will assist us to produce a final plan that sets out the priorities and timescales for enforcement complaints. It will also provide transparency and accountability about how the council, as the local planning authority, will exercise its discretionary enforcement powers where appropriate”.

You can view and comment on the draft Planning Enforcement Plan on our online planning consultation portal via

https://epsom-ewell.inconsult.uk/system/userHome.

The deadline for the receipt of all comments is midnight on Friday 9 July 2021.