Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Enforcement definition

What does Enforcement mean? Enforcement is the practical process of making a court order, judgment, decree or arbitral award take effect when the party bound has not complied by the deadline. It involves applying for, and using, court-sanctioned measures to secure compliance or recover sums due, including where permission is required. The term is descriptive rather than a single statutory definition; the available remedies depend on the jurisdiction and the nature of the order. England and Wales: governed mainly by CPR Parts 70–73, including writ/warrant of control, third party debt orders, charging orders (and orders for sale), attachment of earnings, possession and delivery up, appointment...

Deliberate concealment and planning enforcement in England and Wales: s 171B time limits (2024 changes), Welwyn and Fidler, and ss 171BA–171BC Planning Enforcement Orders

Published by a LexisNexis Planning expert

Practice notes

Overview of Enforcement time limits

Section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 sets the cut-off points after which enforcement for a breach of planning control cannot be taken, unless the breach was deliberately concealed. The relevant periods are:

For operational development: four years from the date the works were substantially completed in Wales, and in England where Completion occurred before 25 April 2024; ten years in England where Substantial completion fell on or after 25 April 2024 (see Practice Note: Substantial completion and planning enforcement for further detail on the legal test for substantial completion)
For breaches involving a change of use of any building to use as a single dwellinghouse: four years from the date of the breach in Wales and in England where the breach arose before 25 April 2024; and ten years in England where the breach took place on or after 25 April 2024
For any other breach of planning control: ten years from the date of the breach

There is no restriction on when enforcement...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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