undefined | Better HN

0 pointswillyt5y ago0 comments

Planning enforcement is 12 years from the date at which it became obvious that building works had been completed. So if you build a castle inside a agricultural shed and take the shed down after 12 years, the timer starts after you take down the shed. Also, there are many caveats and Planning law is complicated and often quite vague in Britain, so you should take advice on your specific situation.

0 comments

2 comments · 2 top-level

mytailorisrich5y ago

It's either 4 years or 10 years from completion depending on cases except if it was deliberately hidden [1].

In my case, the development became immune after 4 years, that's the most common case (e.g. extensions, conservatories, fences, etc)

[1] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement

quietbritishjim5y ago

Planning enforcement for domestic development in England is definitely 4 years, I agree with the parent comment.

There was that one guy who covered his castle in hay bales for just over 4 years before revealing it and they took enforcement action successfully, but that's a bit different. I'm guessing that's why you said "became obvious that building works had been completed" but actually the rule is simply completion date but the courts decided that this guy was taking the piss so much that he still violated the intended meaning of the law. Your odd agricultural shed example may well fall foul of the same thing but I don't see what that has to do with the parent comment.

It's 10 years (not 12) in some cases but they wouldn't concern most domestic developments.

Any insurance of the type referred to by the parent comment is 100% definitely a swindle.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse