Tower Hamlets Planning Compliance Policy (Draft)

Background

Tower Hamlets is experiencing a period of significant growth and investment, with substantial change in the built environment ranging from small scale development by householders and local businesses, through to major development projects and regeneration initiatives.

The planning system plays a central role in managing development, through the assessment and determination of planning applications and the granting or refusing of planning permission. Ensuring compliance with approved plans and planning conditions, investigating reported breaches of planning control and the appropriate use of planning enforcement powers all contribute to an effective development management process.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) set out the importance of effective planning enforcement how local planning authorities should use their discretionary enforcement powers. The NPPF says that Local Planning Authorities should prepare an enforcement plan, to explain how they will exercise their discretionary enforcement powers.

A recent restructure of the Planning and Building Control Service, established a Planning Compliance Team with a wider remit than the former Enforcement Team. A new manager is in post and the capacity of the team has been expanded following the approval of a Mayoral growth bid as part of the 2017/18 council budget process.

The Planning Compliance Policy

The draft Planning Compliance Policy draft Planning Compliance Policy will be in line with the national guidance, but aims to take a more rounded approach to planning compliance issues.

The draft policy will set out the council’s approach to investigating and dealing with reported breaches of planning control; explain how decisions to take formal enforcement action will be made and sets out the standards of service that will be provided.

The Planning Compliance Policy has been informed by recent casework, comments received by the Compliance Team and an up-to-date evidence base. The policy also promotes collaborative working with other parts of the council who have enforcement or compliance powers and provides a framework taking forward proactive area based or topic based improvement projects.

Consultation process

This consultation process represents a chance to comment on the content of the policy and how it has been prepared.

The consultation will run for six weeks from Monday 8 January 2018 until 5pm on Monday 19 February 2018.

In particular, comments should relate to the soundness of the policy. Comments should relate to whether the stipulations are positively prepared, effective, justifiable and consistent with national policy. They could also relate to any legal requirements and procedures as set out.

Where to view the policy?

Download and view the London Borough of Tower Hamlets draft Planning Compliance Policy.

Representations

Our preferred method of receiving representations is via email at planningenforcement@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Alternatively, representations can be made in writing to:

Planning Compliance Team
Planning and Building Control Service
Place Directorate
Tower Hamlets council
Town Hall
Mulberry Place
London
E14 2BG