A homeowner in Pinxton has been ordered to pay £1,243 by Chesterfield Magistrates Court for not complying with a Planning Contravention Notice (PCN) * we issued. 

We received an enquiry in 2019 regarding a large shed at the property of Mr Mark Taylor of Pool Close in Pinxton, which was considered ‘forward of a principal elevation’ (i.e. in front of the house) and so planning permission should have been sought before it was erected.

We went out to investigate and have since issued Mr Taylor with a number of PCNs, the latest being in May 2021. The defendant failed to return the PCN within the requisite 21-days and in October 2021 we submitted the prosecution to court.

The defendant was absent at the court hearing on Wednesday 10 May 2023 and Magistrates found Mr Taylor guilty and sentenced him to a £440 fine, a £44 victim surcharge and ordered that he pay the Council’s costs in the sum of £759, which must be paid within 28-days.

* A Planning Contravention Notice (PCNs) is a tool used by Local Planning Authorities to requisition information from landowners, occupiers or operators. They are used in the investigation of enforcement cases, which typically means there has been some form of complaint or allegation that works on, or the use of land are taking place without planning permission. The response to a PCN then helps the Authority to consider whether a breach of planning control has ‘actually’ occurred. A PCN includes a schedule of questions that those served with the PCN are required to provide a written response to within 21 days. Failure to return the PCN, without reasonable excuse, within the timeframes is a criminal offence.