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You are here: Home > Business and planning > Planning > Planning enforcement > How to complain

How the public can help

This section explains how the public can help the Council's planning enforcement team to protect the character of the Borough.

In many cases the assistance of the general public can be crucial to the success of enforcement action.

Firstly Council officers cannot continually monitor sites.

Accordingly, the Council relies upon the general public, residents associations and amenity societies to report breaches of planning control.

Through all stages of the enforcement process, the public’s knowledge of a site can usefully supplement that held on Council records.

When alerting the Council to a possible breach, it is important to have as much information as possible in writing, together with photographs where appropriate.

This information should include:

• the date on which the activity/building work commenced;
• the exact address of the site complained about as well as the location of the activity/building upon the land (a sketch plan is often helpful); 
• details of the alleged contravenor; 
• details of the nature of the activity including number of vehicular movements/vehicle registration numbers; and 
• details of the effect that the alleged breach is having upon your amenities e.g. noise, traffic, smells, overshadowing, out of character with the area.   

How to complain about an alleged breach

If you wish to make a complaint then it is vital that we have your full details - name, address, home number - in order that we can contact you to inform you of the progress of the investigation or to seek additional information from you.

An anonymous complaint will not be investigated.

Remember, our enforcement files are confidential. However if formal action is taken it may not be possible to keep your complaint confidential.

If an appeal is lodged against an enforcement notice or other notice or if a planning application is submitted, we will notify anyone who informed us of the matter and ask if they wish to submit additional information or appear at an inquiry/hearing to support the Council’s case.

Please remember that the strength of local support can be crucial to the Council’s case. However you should remember that at this point any representations you make will become available for public inspection, including inspection by the site owner, appellant and any legal representatives.

We will acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days of its receipt, and advise you of the complaint priority, reference number and the investigation case officer.

The case officer will act as your point of contact and will endeavour to keep you informed of the progress and outcome of the case, although you may wish to telephone and enquire about progress of the case.

Reporting a planning breach

You can report a planning breach using an online form.

• I want to report a planning breach online. 

Alternatively you can provide the information in writing.

• Email: planning.enforcement@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
  
• Write to: Planning Enforcement
  Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
  Town Hall
  Castlefield Road
  Reigate
  RH2 0SH
  
• Fax: 01737 276018  

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