Planning Enforcement & Certificates of Lawfulness

We advise on the enforcement of planning regulations and permissions where they have not been followed or implemented correctly, helping to investigate potential breaches when they arise.

Enforcement actions can include issuing enforcement notices, stop notices or taking legal action. We advise both developers and local authorities in this area, supporting local authorities taking action as well developers facing enforcement.

We also advise on Certificates of Lawfulness where developers need legal confirmation that an existing or proposed development is lawful and doesn’t require planning permission.

Developers can apply for two different types of certificates – one proves that a development has become lawful through the passage of time. The other can be applied for at the start of a new development or change of use and again provides assurances that the proposed development is lawful and doesn’t require planning permission.

Both types of certificates require application to be submitted to the local planning authority with supporting evidence. We regularly help developers with their applications and any representations to the local authority so that they have certainty and are protected against any future enforcement action.