Part VIIE+W Enforcement

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. VII (ss. 172-196C) applied (with modifications) (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1492, regs. 2(1)(b), 3-11

Pt. VII (ss. 172-196C) applied (with modifications) (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 19, s. 20(3), Sch. 5 Pt. III paras. 15(1), 20 (with ss. 54(5)(7), 55(5), Sch. 17 paras. 22(1), 23(2)); S.I. 1995/3198, art. 4, Sch. 2

[F1 Certificate of lawful use or developmentE+W

Textual Amendments

F1Ss. 191 - 194 substituted (25.11.1991 for certain purposes and otherwise 27.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 10(1) (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2728, art.2; S.I. 1992/1630, art. 2 (with art. 3(1)(2))

F2191 Certificate of lawfulness of existing use or development.E+W

(1)If any person wishes to ascertain whether—

(a)any existing use of buildings or other land is lawful;

(b)any operations which have been carried out in, on, over or under land are lawful; or

(c)any other matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted is lawful,

he may make an application for the purpose to the local planning authority specifying the land and describing the use, operations or other matter.

(2)For the purposes of this Act uses and operations are lawful at any time if—

(a)no enforcement action may then be taken in respect of them (whether because they did not involve development or require planning permission or because the time for enforcement action has expired or for any other reason); and

(b)they do not constitute a contravention of any of the requirements of any enforcement notice then in force.

(3)For the purposes of this Act any matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted is lawful at any time if—

(a)the time for taking enforcement action in respect of the failure has then expired; and

(b)it does not constitute a contravention of any of the requirements of any enforcement notice or breach of condition notice then in force.

[F3(3A)In determining for the purposes of this section whether the time for taking enforcement action in respect of a matter has expired, that time is to be taken not to have expired if—

(a)the time for applying for an order under section 171BA(1) (a “planning enforcement order”) in relation to the matter has not expired,

(b)an application has been made for a planning enforcement order in relation to the matter and the application has neither been decided nor been withdrawn, or

(c)a planning enforcement order has been made in relation to the matter, the order has not been rescinded and the enforcement year for the order (whether or not it has begun) has not expired.]

(4)If, on an application under this section, the local planning authority are provided with information satisfying them of the lawfulness at the time of the application of the use, operations or other matter described in the application, or that description as modified by the local planning authority or a description substituted by them, they shall issue a certificate to that effect; and in any other case they shall refuse the application.

(5)A certificate under this section shall—

(a)specify the land to which it relates;

(b)describe the use, operations or other matter in question (in the case of any use falling within one of the classes specified in an order under section 55(2)(f), identifying it by reference to that class);

(c)give the reasons for determining the use, operations or other matter to be lawful; and

(d)specify the date of the application for the certificate.

(6)The lawfulness of any use, operations or other matter for which a certificate is in force under this section shall be conclusively presumed.

(7)A certificate under this section in respect of any use shall also have effect, for the purposes of the following enactments, as if it were a grant of planning permission—

(a)section 3(3) of the M1Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 [F4or section 7(1) of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013;]

(b)section 5(2) of the M2Control of Pollution Act 1974; and

(c)section 36(2)(a) of the M3Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Textual Amendments

F2S. 191 substituted (25.11.1991 for certain purposes and otherwise 27.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 10(1) (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2728, art.2; S.I. 1992/1630, art. 2 (with art. 3(1)(2))

F3S. 191(3A) inserted (6.4.2012) by Localism Act 2011 (c. 20), ss. 124(3), 240(2) (with s. 144); S.I. 2012/628, art. 8(b) (with arts. 9, 12, 13, 16, 18-20) (as amended (3.8.2012) by S.I. 2012/2029, arts. 2, 4)

F4Words in s. 191(7)(a) inserted (5.11.2013) by Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 (anaw 6), s. 64(1), Sch. 4 para. 6(3) (with Sch. 5 para. 7) (this amendment is to be treated as not having effect until 1.10.2014 by virtue of S.I. 2014/11, art. 3(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4S. 191: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3

C5S. 191 modified (1.8.2000) by S.I. 2000/1973, reg. 10(3) (with reg. 10(14))

C6S. 191(4): functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.)(16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1

Marginal Citations

F5192 Certificate of lawfulness of proposed use or development.E+W

(1)If any person wishes to ascertain whether—

(a)any proposed use of buildings or other land; or

(b)any operations proposed to be carried out in, on, over or under land,

would be lawful, he may make an application for the purpose to the local planning authority specifying the land and describing the use or operations in question.

(2)If, on an application under this section, the local planning authority are provided with information satisfying them that the use or operations described in the application would be lawful if instituted or begun at the time of the application, they shall issue a certificate to that effect; and in any other case they shall refuse the application.

(3)A certificate under this section shall—

(a)specify the land to which it relates;

(b)describe the use or operations in question (in the case of any use falling within one of the classes specified in an order under section 55(2)(f), identifying it by reference to that class);

(c)give the reasons for determining the use or operations to be lawful; and

(d)specify the date of the application for the certificate.

(4)The lawfulness of any use or operations for which a certificate is in force under this section shall be conclusively presumed unless there is a material change, before the use is instituted or the operations are begun, in any of the matters relevant to determining such lawfulness.

Textual Amendments

F5S. 192 substituted (25.11.1991 for certain purposes and otherwise 27.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 10(1) (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2728, art.2; S.I. 1992/1630, art. 2 (with art. 3(1)(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C7S. 192: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3

C8S. 192 modified (1.8.2000) by S.I. 2000/1973, reg. 10(5) (with reg. 10(14))

C9S. 192(2): functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.)(16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1

F6193 Certificates under sections 191 and 192: supplementary provisions.E+W

(1)An application for a certificate under section 191 or 192 shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order and shall include such particulars, and be verified by such evidence, as may be required by such an order or by any directions given under such an order or by the local planning authority.

(2)Provision may be made by a development order for regulating the manner in which applications for certificates under those sections are to be dealt with by local planning authorities.

(3)In particular, such an order may provide for requiring the authority—

(a)to give to any applicant within such time as may be prescribed by the order such notice as may be so prescribed as to the manner in which his application has been dealt with; and

(b)to give to the Secretary of State and to such other persons as may be prescribed by or under the order, such information as may be so prescribed with respect to such applications made to the authority, including information as to the manner in which any application has been dealt with.

(4)A certificate under either of those sections may be issued—

(a)for the whole or part of the land specified in the application; and

(b)where the application specifies two or more uses, operations or other matters, for all of them or some one or more of them;

and shall be in such form as may be prescribed by a development order.

(5)A certificate under section 191 or 192 shall not affect any matter constituting a failure to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted unless that matter is described in the certificate.

(6)In section 69 references to applications for planning permission shall include references to applications for certificates under section 191 or 192.

(7)A local planning authority may revoke a certificate under either of those sections if, on the application for the certificate—

(a)a statement was made or document used which was false in a material particular; or

(b)any material information was withheld.

(8)Provision may be made by a development order for regulating the manner in which certificates may be revoked and the notice to be given of such revocation.

Textual Amendments

F6S. 193 substituted (25.11.1991 for certain purposes and otherwise 27.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 10(1) (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2728, art.2; S.I. 1992/1630, art. 2 (with art. 3(1)(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10S. 193: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3

F7194 Offences.E+W

(1)If any person, for the purpose of procuring a particular decision on an application (whether by himself or another) for the issue of a certificate under section 191 or 192—

(a)knowingly or recklessly makes a statement which is false or misleading in a material particular;

(b)with intent to deceive, uses any document which is false or misleading in a material particular; or

(c)with intent to deceive, withholds any material information,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(2)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.

(3)Notwithstanding section 127 of the M4Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980, a magistrates’ court may try an information in respect of an offence under subsection (1) whenever laid.]

Textual Amendments

F7S. 194 substituted (25.11.1991 for certain purposes and otherwise 27.7.1992) by Planning and Compensation Act 1991 (c. 34, SIF 123:1), s. 10(1) (with s. 84(5)); S.I. 1991/2728, art.2; S.I. 1992/1630, art. 2 (with art. 3(1)(2))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11S. 194: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3

Marginal Citations

195 Appeals against refusal or failure to give decision on application.E+W

(1)Where an application is made to a local planning authority for [F8a certificate under section 191 or 192] and—

(a)the application is refused or is refused in part, or

(b)the authority do not give notice to the applicant of their decision on the application within such period as may be prescribed by a development order or within such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the authority,

the applicant may by notice appeal to the Secretary of State.

[F9(1B)A notice of appeal under this section must be—

(a)served within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed by a development order;

(b)accompanied by such information as may be prescribed by such an order.

(1C)The time prescribed for the service of a notice of appeal under this section must not be less than—

(a)28 days from the date of notification of the decision on the application; or

(b)in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), 28 days from—

(i)the end of the period prescribed as mentioned in subsection (1)(b), or

(ii)as the case may be, the extended period mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

F10(1D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F11(1DA)Once notice of an appeal under this section to the Welsh Ministers has been served, the application to which it relates may not be varied, except in such circumstances as may be prescribed by a development order.

(1DB)A development order which makes provision under subsection (1DA) must provide for an application which is varied to be subject to such further consultation as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate.]

F10(1E). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(1F). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

(2)On any such appeal, if and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied—

(a)in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(a), that the authority’s refusal is not well-founded, or

(b)in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), that if the authority had refused the application their refusal would not have been well-founded,

he shall grant the appellant [F12a certificate under section 191 or, as the case may be, 192] accordingly or, in the case of a refusal in part, modify the certificate granted by the authority on the application.

(3)If and so far as the Secretary of State is satisfied that the authority’s refusal is or, as the case may be, would have been well-founded, he shall dismiss the appeal.

[F13(3A)Where the local planning authority referred to in subsection (1) is in England, if at any time before or during the determination of an appeal under subsection (1)(a) or (b) it appears to the Secretary of State that the appellant is responsible for undue delay in the progress of the appeal, the Secretary of State may—

(a)give the appellant notice that the appeal will be dismissed unless the appellant takes, within the period specified in the notice, such steps as are so specified for the expedition of the appeal, and

(b)if the appellant fails to take those steps within that period, dismiss the appeal accordingly.]

[F14(4)References in this section to a refusal of an application in part include a modification or substitution of the description in the application of the use, operations or other matter in question.]

(5)For the purposes of the application [F15in relation to England] of [F16section 288(10)(b)] [F16sections 196(1A), 288(10)(b) and 319A(7)(d)] in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.

[F17(5A)For the purposes of the application in relation to Wales of sections 288(10)(b) and 319B(7)(d) in relation to an appeal in a case within subsection (1)(b) it shall be assumed that the authority decided to refuse the application in question.]

(6)Schedule 6 applies to appeals under this section.

Textual Amendments

F9S. 195(1B)-(1F) inserted (6.4.2009 for E., 30.4.2012 for W.) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(3)(4), Sch. 11 para. 3 (with s. 226); S.I. 2009/400, art. 5(d); S.I. 2012/802, art. 2(b)

F10S. 195(1D)-(1F) omitted (6.9.2015) by virtue of Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4), s. 58(2)(a), Sch. 7 para. 7(3)

F11S. 195(1DA)(1DB) inserted (6.9.2015 for specified purposes, 5.5.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4), ss. 47(2), 58(2)(b)(4)(b); S.I. 2017/546, art. 3(b) (with art. 4)

F16Words in s. 195(5) substituted (25.4.2024 for specified purposes) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(8), Sch. 10 para. 7 (with s. 226); S.I. 2024/452, reg. 2(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C12S. 195: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3

196 Further provisions as to references and appeals to the Secretary of State.E+W

(1)Before determining F18. . . an appeal to him under section 195(1), the Secretary of State shall, if either the [F19appellant] or the local planning authority so wish, give each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

[F20(1A)Subsection (1) does not apply to an appeal against a decision of a local planning authority in England.]

[F21(1B)Subsection (1) does not apply to an appeal to the Welsh Ministers.]

(2)Where the Secretary of State grants [F22a certificate under section 191 or 192 on] such a reference or [F23an appeal under section 195(1)], he shall give notice to the local planning authority of that fact.

(3)The decision of the Secretary of State on such F24. . . appeal shall be final.

(4)The information which may be prescribed as being required to be contained in a register kept under section 69 shall include information with respect to [F25certificates under section 191 or 192] granted by the Secretary of State.

F26(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F26(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F26(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F27(8)Subsection (5) of section 250 of the Local Government Act 1972 (which authorises a Minister holding an inquiry under that section to make orders with respect to the costs of the parties) shall apply in relation to any proceedings [F28in England] before the Secretary of State on an appeal under section 195 as if those proceedings were an inquiry held by the Secretary of State under section 250.]

Textual Amendments

F20S. 196(1A) inserted (25.4.2024 for specified purposes) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), s. 241(8), Sch. 10 para. 8(2) (with s. 226); S.I. 2024/452, reg. 2(b)

F27S. 196(8) inserted (temp.) by virtue of Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 11, SIF 123:1, 2), s. 6, Sch. 4 paras. 1, 4 (which temp. insertion falls (2.1.1992 and 6.4.2009) for specified purposes only by virtue of S.I. 1991/2698, art. 3 and S.I. 2009/849, art. 2 (with art. 3))

F28Words in s. 196(8) inserted (6.9.2015 for specified purposes, 1.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Planning (Wales) Act 2015 (anaw 4), s. 58(2)(b)(4)(b), Sch. 5 para. 10; S.I. 2016/52, art. 4(a) (with art. 17)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C13S. 196: power to apply conferred (10.11.1993) by 1993 c. 28, s. 171(4)(a); S.I. 1993/2762, art. 3