Untidy Land

Introduction

Where the condition of land severely adversely affects the amenity of a neighbourhood the Council may require its proper maintenance. This involves approaching the land owner concerned and seeking a voluntary solution before moving towards powers available under s215 of the Planning Act.

What can the Council Do?

These powers enable the Council to serve a notice on a land owner requiring that they take steps to tidy their land and specifying a timetable for it to be achieved. The Council will first need to establish who the owner/s of land is/are before serving a notice, and this can take some time (for example, Land Registry searches, local enquiries etc) to achieve as it is imperative that all the correct parties are found. There is also a right of appeal against the service of such notices and the measures that they require, which is made to the Magistrates Court.

Should you wish to complain about land and/or buildings that you think are so untidy that it seriously affects the area, please contact the planning enforcement service by either email, planningenforcement@melton.gov.uk or by submitting a complaints form which can be downloaded by clicking on the link.

More Information

The Government has produced extensive guidance on the scope and use of this legislation, Town and Country Planning Act 1990 - Section 215 - Best Practice Guidance, which can be downloaded by clicking on the link.