- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 179 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 10 February 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
(1)Where, at any time after the end of the period for compliance with an enforcement notice, any step required by the notice to be taken has not been taken or any activity required by the notice to cease is being carried on, the person who is then the owner of the land is in breach of the notice.
(2)Where the owner of the land is in breach of an enforcement notice he shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)In proceedings against any person for an offence under subsection (2), it shall be a defence for him to show that he did everything he could be expected to do to secure compliance with the notice.
(4)A person who has control of or an interest in the land to which an enforcement notice relates (other than the owner) must not carry on any activity which is required by the notice to cease or cause or permit such an activity to be carried on.
(5)A person who, at any time after the end of the period for compliance with the notice, contravenes subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence.
(6)An offence under subsection (2) or (5) may be charged by reference to any day or longer period of time and a person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offence under the subsection in question by reference to any period of time following the preceding conviction for such an offence.
(7)Where—
(a)a person charged with an offence under this section has not been served with a copy of the enforcement notice; and
(b)the notice is not contained in the appropriate register kept under section 188,
it shall be a defence for him to show that he was not aware of the existence of the notice.
(8)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable [F2on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine].
(9)In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under this section, the court shall in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to him in consequence of the offence.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 179 substituted (2.1.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s.8 (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2905, art.3 (subject to art. 5)
F2Words in s. 179(8) substituted (12.3.2015) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/664), reg. 1(1), Sch. 4 para. 18(3) (with reg. 5(1))
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 179: power to modify conferred (11.3.1992 so far as to confer on the Secretary of State a power or impose on him a duty to make regulations, or make provision with respect to the exercise of any such power or duty, 1.6.1992 so far not already in force) by Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990 (c. 10, SIF 123:1), s. 25(1)(c); S.I. 1992/725, arts. 2, 3
S. 179 applied (with modifications) (1.6.1992) by S.I. 1992/656, reg. 20(1), Sch. 4 Pt. 2
S. 179 applied (with modifications) (27.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1562, reg. 2, Sch.
S. 179: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3
S. 179 restricted (E.) (13.4.2001) by S.I. 2001/1478, reg. 3(a)
C2Ss. 178-181 applied (with modifications) (E.) (1.6.2015) by The Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/627), regs. 1(1), 15, Sch. 4 Pt. 2 (with reg. 34)
C3Ss. 178-181 applied (with modifications) (W.) (4.9.2015) by The Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Wales) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1597), regs. 1(1), 18, Sch. 4 Pt. 2 (with reg. 36)
C4S. 179 amendment to earlier affecting provision S.I. 1992/656, Sch. 4 Pt. 2 (12.3.2015) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Fines on Summary Conviction) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/664), reg. 1(1), Sch. 4 para. 50 (with reg. 5(1))
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: