Should you wish to advise the Council of a planning enforcement matter, please provide as much information as possible, including:

• Your name, address and contact telephone number
• The name and address of the person carrying out the works
• The location of the site
• Details of the complaint
• What harm is being caused to you and the area generally

Our enforcement team can be contacted directly by letter addressed to The Planning Enforcement Team, Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Beds, SG17 5TQ, by telephone on 0300 300 8307 or e-mail at planning.enforcement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or by using the e-form. All concerns are treated in confidence but we may need to contact you for further information and to discuss your concerns.

We investigate and record all cases relating to alleged unauthorised development, including changes of use of land and/or buildings.

Firstly we determine if a breach of planning control has taken place. In most cases an enforcement officer will visit the site. Officers have the power to gain entry to premises.

Central Bedfordshire operates a corporate approach to enforcement and during an investigation planning enforcement officers may liaise with other sections (such as environmental health) to ensure all contraventions are identified and dealt with.

If you are informed your development is unauthorised you have the right to make a planning application. This will not prevent the Council from serving an Enforcement Notice if the unauthorised development is considered totally unacceptable, and if it is considered expedient to do so.

An officer will tell you the findings of the investigation and of the planning issues raised. Enforcement action is discretionary and if the breach is not causing harm, in planning terms, then it is possible no further action will be taken.

A breach causes harm if it is contrary to planning polices and/or is physically unacceptable e.g. causes nuisance for neighbours, looks unsightly or is a traffic hazard.

Customer guidelines for reporting an unauthorised encampment

If you need to report an unauthorised encampment:

• During office hours please phone 0300 300 8049.
• Outside office hours please phone 01582 665698.
• or email customer services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

To help us respond correctly and promptly, please provide the following information:

1. Where is the encampment?

• Who the landowner is
• A road name or number
• Any nearby house numbers
• A numbered lamppost
• A landmark
• A grid reference

2. How many vehicles there are?

• How many caravans
• How many vehicles
• Any registration numbers

3. When you first saw the encampment 

We will investigate the circumstances based on the information you provide and may ask you for more information if you have left contact details.

The steps that the Council take in response will depend on a number of things. Firstly, we must establish who owns the land. If we don’t own it or know who owns it we will try to find out. If neighbours don’t know, we will request a search by the Land Registry. It can take up to a week to receive the results. In almost all events we will know the owner within a week and usually much sooner.

Once we know the owner of the land we will take the appropriate actions to move Gypsies & Travellers on as peacefully and quickly as possible and may instruct bailiffs to undertake an initial visit. Before deciding on the next course of action, the Council must consider the general health, welfare and children's education and ensure that the Human Rights Act 1998 has been fully complied with.

The average time for an unauthorised encampment between the initial bailiff’s visit and for Gypsies & Travellers to leave the site is 3 weeks.

If the land is privately owned it is the landowner’s responsibility to take action. If the landowner fails to remove an unauthorised encampment, we will consider taking action requiring them to do so.

Once vehicles have left an unauthorised encampment on the Highway or other Council owned land, it will be inspected and any necessary work undertaken.

If Central Bedfordshire Council has not determined an application after eight weeks (or thirteen weeks in the case of major applications) you also have the right to appeal against non-determination. This can be done in the same way as an appeal against a planning decision.

Only applicants have the right to appeal against the Council’s decision and the Planning Inspectorates appeal decision is final unless defective on a point of law. In such a case, the appellant can appeal to the High Court. Third parties, including objectors, have no right of appeal. 

You may appeal against a planning decision because it has been refused or because conditions have been imposed.  Appeals should be made to:

The Planning Inspectorate,
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol,
BS1 6PN. 

Online:Submit your appeal online

Methods of appeal:

• Householder Appeal Service – these types of appeals are dealt with an exchange of questionnaires and appellants Grounds for appeal followed by an unaccompanied site visit by an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate.
• Written Representation - these types of appeals are dealt with by an exchange of written statements and a site visit by an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate.
• Hearing - these types of appeals comprise an informal discussion of the merits of the case between the appellant and the Council and are chaired by an Inspector.
• Public Inquiry - these types of appeals are often used for major applications and are similar to a hearing but take a more formal procedure.
• View current appeals and decisions here

All appeals where an Enforcement Notice is served - 28 days from date of decision or when the Notice comes into effect

Use the link further below on this page to view details of planning applications, including; application forms; plans and supporting statements; currently being considered by the Council; and decision notices.

This information is updated daily.

In order to view these documents you must agree to the copyright notice below, by clicking on the link further below.

This will take you to our search guidelines which will assist you in finding the information you require. (Please note that not all documents are available online. Some of our files are either still in paper format or have previously been transferred onto microfiche. If you cannot find the information you require please telephone 0300 300 8307 and arrangements can be made for you to view the information at one of our offices)

You will need Adobe acrobat viewer in order to be able to view associated documents. This can be downloaded free of charge from the adobe website.

It is important that you realise that plans, drawing and material submitted to the Council are protected by the Copyrights Act (Section 47, 1988 Act). You may only use material which is downloaded and/or printed for consultation purposes, to compare current applications with previous schemes and to check whether developments have been completed in accordance with approved plans. Further copies must not be made without prior permission of the copyright owner. By clicking on the link below, you agree to abide by this copyright notice before being able to view any documents:

I agree to abide by the copyright notice above