Part VII

Enforcement

Planning contravention notices

Power to require information about activities on land.
171C
1
Where it appears to the local planning authority that there may have been a breach of planning control in respect of any land, they may serve notice to that effect (referred to in this Act as a “
planning contravention notice
”) on any person who—
a
is the owner or occupier of the land or has any other interest in it; or
b
is carrying out operations on the land or is using it for any purpose.
2
A planning contravention notice may require the person on whom it is served to give such information as to—
a
any operations being carried out on the land, any use of the land and any other activities being carried out on the land; and
b
any matter relating to the conditions or limitations subject to which any planning permission in respect of the land has been granted,
as may be specified in the notice.
3
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), the notice may require the person on whom it is served, so far as he is able—
a
to state whether or not the land is being used for any purpose specified in the notice or any operations or activities specified in the notice are being or have been carried out on the land;
b
to state when any use, operations or activities began;
c
to give the name and
postal
address of any person known to him to use or have used the land for any purpose or to be carrying out, or have carried out, any operations or activities on the land;
d
to give any information he holds as to any planning permission for any use or operations or any reason for planning permission not being required for any use or operations;
e
to state the nature of his interest (if any) in the land and the name and
postal
address of any other person known to him to have an interest in the land.
4
A planning contravention notice may give notice of a time and place at which—
a
any offer which the person on whom the notice is served may wish to make to apply for planning permission, to refrain from carrying out any operations or activities or to undertake remedial works; and
b
any representations which he may wish to make about the notice,
will be considered by the authority, and the authority shall give him an opportunity to make in person any such offer or representations at that time and place.
5
A planning contravention notice must inform the person on whom it is served—
a
of the likely consequences of his failing to respond to the notice and, in particular, that enforcement action may be taken; and
b
of the effect of section 186(5)(b).
6
Any requirement of a planning contravention notice shall be complied with by giving information in writing to the local planning authority.
7
The service of a planning contravention notice does not affect any other power exercisable in respect of any breach of planning control.
8
In this section references to operations or activities on land include operations or activities in, under or over the land.
Pt. VII (ss. 172-196C) applied (with modifications) (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1492, regs. 2(1)(b), 3-11
Pt. VII (ss. 172-196C) applied (with modifications) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 20(3), Sch. 5 Pt. III paras. 15(1), 20 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 4, Sch. 2
Ss. 171C, 171D and cross heading inserted (2.1.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s.1 (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2905, art.3 (subject to art. 5)
Ss. 171C, 171D inserted (2.1.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s.1(with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2905, art. 3 (subject to art. 5)
S. 171C: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3
S. 171C: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.)(16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1
Word in s. 171C(3)(c)(e) inserted (E.) (31.3.2003) by The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (England) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/956), art. 5(a); (W.) (1.1.2005) by The Town and Country Planning (Electronic Communications) (Wales) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3156), arts. 5(a), 14
Pt. 7 modified (16.9.2011) by The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Access to Infrastructure) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2305), regs. 1, 19(2)
Pt. 7 applied (with modifications) (4.7.2023) by The Building Safety (Responsible Actors Scheme and Prohibitions) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/753), regs. 1(1), 41, Sch. (as amended (E.) (25.4.2024) by The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/453), regs. 1(2), 4(2))