Planning Enforcement Fund

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced a new Planning Enforcement Fund aimed at providing funding for local planning authorities towards the legal costs of seeking a court injunction against those who disregard planning laws.

Authorities will be able to apply for a grant of up to £10,000 or 50% of their estimated legal costs – whichever is the lesser. The funding will only be available where other enforcement options have been ineffective (or it can be demonstrated that other options would be ineffective) or where there have been persistent planning control breaches over a long period

Eric Pickles said of the fund: “The public rightly expects fair play in the planning system. Law-abiding residents follow the rules and obtain planning permission so they find it galling to see others who don’t. That’s why we set up this new fund to help councils act swiftly to stop unauthorised development.”