Learn about the key skills, qualifications, and career path for a Planning Enforcement Officer
Learn about the key skills, qualifications, and career path for a Planning Enforcement Officer
Practice Interviews Online - Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic Planning Enforcement Officer mock interview, under 10 minutes
Practice Now »Yes, a planning enforcement officer can enter property if they are duly authorised in writing by a local planning authority and carry authorisation on their person. This is outlined in Section 196C of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
To become a planning enforcement officer in the UK, you will need to have a degree in Planning or a closely related discipline. It is also desirable to have experience in implementing legislation and some knowledge of planning. You should be analytical, have good judgment, and be able to work on your own initiative.
A planning enforcement officer in the UK can make site visits to assess developments that are claimed to be in breach of planning control and take legal action if necessary. They also have the legal right to investigate alleged breaches of planning law.
Planning enforcement officers have the power to investigate and take action against various types of unauthorized activities, including building or engineering works, changes of use to a building or land, advertisements, works to listed buildings, demolition, traveller and roadside encampments, and untidy sites that are harmful to the neighborhood's amenity.