Planning Enforcement

Where allegations are made that a development has been carried out without planning permission, or that conditions attached to a planning consent are not being complied with, we will investigate and seek to resolve any breaches of planning control that may have occurred. We support good neighbour relations and attempt to resolve issues by negotiation and only resort to taking formal action if other approaches have failed. 

The purpose of planning enforcement is to resolve a problem which has arisen because of unauthorised development rather than punish a mistake; we will not always take action if no harm is being caused by development, regardless of the need for planning permission.     

The council's Enforcement Charter (PDF, 1 MB)(opens new window) gives information on the enforcement process and what action the council can take over a breach of planning control.

The planning enforcement team has powers to investigate:

• Development carried out without planning permission
• Breaches of conditions of planning consents
• Other planning matters which give rise to concern over residential amenity
• Unauthorised works to a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order
• Unauthorised works to a listed building
• Unauthorised advertisements (note - we don't control the content, wording or images used in an advertisement. For that you will need to contact the Advertising Standards Authority.)

What the planning enforcement team cannot investigate:

• Land ownership and boundary issues - these are not planning matters, and are normally dealt with by a solicitor. If the property is owned by the council, you should contact Property Services.
• Issues not covered by planning legislation, such as noise. If we receive a complaint which is better dealt with by another service in the council or an external agency, we will pass it on to the appropriate service.

Report a breach of planning control

If you think that a breach of planning control has occurred and you would like us to investigate, please use the Enforcement Complaint form.

If you prefer you can write to us at: Planning Services (Enforcement), West Lothian Civic Centre, Howden South Road, Livingston, EH54 6FF.

Before you contact us please read our Privacy Notice (PDF, 120 KB)(opens new window)

Enforcement Register

You can view the 2024 Register (PDF, 175 KB)(opens new window) , which gives details of all notices served by West Lothian Council so far this year. It will be updated whenever a new notice is served.

Part IV of the Town and Country Planning (Enforcement of Control) (No.2) (Scotland) Regulations 1992 normally require hard copies of planning application files and lists of cases to be made available for public inspection and copying. 

You can also view the 2015 register (PDF, 65 KB)(opens new window) , the 2016 register. (PDF, 60 KB)(opens new window). the 2017 register (PDF, 82 KB)(opens new window), the 2018 register (PDF, 65 KB)(opens new window), the 2019 register (PDF, 51 KB)(opens new window), the 2020 register (PDF, 119 KB)(opens new window), the 2021 register (PDF, 71 KB)(opens new window), the 2022 Register (PDF, 72 KB)(opens new window), and the 2023 register (PDF, 110 KB)(opens new window)