Manchester City Council

Planning and regeneration Planning Enforcement

Reporting a breach of planning control

Any report made to the Compliance officers are dealt with on a confidential basis.

All reports of breaches of planning control are taken seriously and we will try to keep you informed of how matters progress.

Reporting a breach

If you think something may have required planning permission and you are concerned about it, you can email planning.enforcement@manchester.gov.uk

In your email, tell us:

  • What the problem is
  • The address of the property
  • Your contact details

Before you contact us, check whether planning permission has been granted. You can do this by searching our Public Register.

If you find planning permission for the work, but you think the work on site is different, tell us what is different. Please also include the planning application reference number in your email.

Not all building work needs planning permission. Some changes and home improvements can take place without a planning application. You can find more information on the Planning Portal: www.planningportal.co.uk

Please include photographs and any other evidence that supports your concern. This will help us look into the issue more quickly and decide if further enquiries are needed.

We do not deal with the following issues:

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You may choose to use AI to help write your complaint. However, AI can sometimes produce information that is wrong, misleading, or not relevant. It is important that you explain your concerns clearly and in your own words. This helps us understand the issue and decide what action, if any, is needed.

If you use AI, you are responsible for making sure the information you send is accurate, relevant, and as brief as possible. If we cannot understand your complaint because of the way AI has been used, or if no evidence has been provided to support the concerns raised, we may decide not to take the matter any further.

If your complaint is written entirely by AI and is not supported by information or evidence, such as photographs or videos, you should not expect to receive a response.

Anonymous emails

Please provide your name and contact details when contacting us.

We do not usually investigate complaints sent from anonymous email addresses. These include "noreply" accounts, or from email accounts created only to make a complaint. If you do not provide your name and contact details, you should not expect to receive a response unless the matter appears to involve a significant breach of planning rules.