A few months ago, you investigated a complaint involving a number of alterations to a dwelling house in a conservation area.  There were several breaches on the site but only one of them - the replacement of several windows on the front elevation with inappropriate uPVC windows – was considered to be harmful.  You issued an enforcement notice which alleged a long list of breaches, but required only that the inappropriate windows be replaced.  

 

The period for compliance with the notice has just expired and the works have not been completed.  You telephone the owner of the house, who claims that he has lost his job and is not in a financial position to comply with the notice right now.  He is unable to give even a rough timescale of when he may be able to start work.  When warned of the risks of non-compliance, he claims that he has far bigger priorities and ‘what will be, will be’. 

 

Shortly afterwards, a local councillor calls you up, demanding that prosecution proceedings be commenced against the owner. She claims that an example must be made of householders in this sensitive conservation area, and that if action isn’t taken, it will encourage other householders to carry out similar work without permission. She also advises you that she is ‘very disappointed’ that the enforcement notice did not also require the removal of an extension which had been constructed to the rear, as this was in fact the primary concern of neighbours.  She requests that the council reconsider their view on whether to take action against this, and that an enforcement notice should be issued on the extension as soon as possible.