You Have Received a Planning Enforcement Notice. You Have 28 Days.

How It Works

We review the notice — We assess the breach alleged, the legal basis of the notice, and whether there are grounds to appeal. This happens fast — we will not waste your time.

We identify the grounds — Enforcement appeals can be made on up to six grounds under Section 174 of the TCPA 1990. We identify which apply to your situation and build the strongest argument available.

We lodge and manage — We lodge the appeal with the Planning Inspectorate before the deadline, manage the process, and represent your interests through to the Inspector's decision.

What is a planning enforcement notice?

A planning enforcement notice is a formal notice issued by the local planning authority alleging a breach of planning control. It specifies the breach, the steps required to remedy it, and a compliance period. Once served, you have a right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate — but only within 28 days of the date of service.

If no appeal is lodged within the 28-day window, the notice takes effect. Non-compliance after that point is a criminal offence.

The six grounds of appeal

An enforcement appeal under Section 174 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can be made on one or more of six grounds:

Ground (a): Planning permission ought to be granted for the development, or the condition ought to be discharged.
Ground (b): The breach alleged has not occurred as a matter of fact.
Ground (c): The alleged breach does not constitute a breach of planning control.
Ground (d): The development is permitted development under the GPDO.
Ground (e): The notice was not served within the statutory time limits under Section 171B.
Ground (f): The steps required by the notice exceed what is reasonably required.
Ground (g): The compliance period is unreasonably short.

In farm enforcement cases, grounds (b), (c), (d) and (e) are most commonly relevant.

Agricultural development and enforcement

A significant proportion of enforcement action on farms involves disputes about whether development falls within agricultural permitted development rights under Part 6 of the GPDO — and therefore does not constitute a breach of planning control at all. This is ground (c) or, where the PD right is directly asserted, ground (d).

Foxes Rural handles these cases across England. We know where local planning authorities overstep, where enforcement notices are legally vulnerable, and where the argument is weak. If there are grounds, we will find them. If the notice is sound, we will tell you that too before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

What if I miss the 28-day appeal window?
The right of appeal is lost. The notice takes effect and you must comply with the required steps within the compliance period. Non-compliance is a criminal offence. If you have missed the window, there may still be options — including an application for planning permission to regularise the breach — but your position is significantly weaker. Contact us immediately.

Does an enforcement notice mean I have to demolish what I've built?
Not necessarily. The notice specifies the steps required to remedy the breach. Those steps might include demolition, but the appropriate remedy depends on the nature of the breach. One of the appeal grounds is that the required steps exceed what is reasonably required. We assess this at the outset.

Can I carry on farming while an enforcement notice is live?
The notice specifies a compliance period. You can continue normal agricultural operations during that period. The notice relates to the specific breach alleged, not to the whole farm. However, you should take legal advice on the specific terms of the notice you have received.