Planning Enforcement and Monitoring Plan

2.1 As the local planning authority, Buckinghamshire Council has a legal duty under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to investigate reports of alleged breaches of planning control. National guidance, including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG), makes clear that enforcement action is a discretionary power. This means councils must decide whether it is appropriate to take formal action based on whether the breach causes harm and whether action is in the public interest.

2.2 We consider each case carefully, taking into account both national policy and local priorities. This includes considering policies in the relevant Local Plan(s), which guides development across the county and helps us determine what impact a breach may have on the local area.

2.3 Buckinghamshire Council aims to provide an efficient and effective Planning Compliance & Enforcement Service that is focused on protecting its area against harmful development in a way that is balanced, clear and consistent.

2.4 The Council also has the requirement to monitor mineral and landfill permissions and a duty to ensure that appropriate periodic inspections of waste sites are carried out.

2.5 General information on the approach the Council takes to formal action can be found in the Buckinghamshire Council Corporate Enforcement Policy.