HEREFORDSHIRE Council didn’t publish any details of the planning enforcement actions it took against property owners in the county during the first quarter of this year – though it is legally obliged to do so.

A planning authority serves enforcement notices on individuals or businesses when it believes development has either taken place there without planning permission, or does not match the permission granted.

Planning authorities, such as Herefordshire are obliged, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, to maintain a register of enforcement and stop notices.

However, the Herefordshire authority has blamed ‘technical difficulties’ and states it hopes to be back online soon.

But while this lists 28 such cases in 2024 and 33 in 2025, an average of more than 2.5 a month, so far in the first three months of 2026, no cases have been recorded.

A Herefordshire Council spokesperson confirmed that planning enforcement has continued throughout this year and added: “While the Planning Enforcement Register is temporarily offline due to technical difficulties, this does not mean that cases are not being investigated or action taken,” the spokesperson said, adding the register will be updated and back online soon.

“In the meantime, residents who may have queries about specific enforcement matters should contact the planning enforcement team directly,” they suggested.

Two years ago, the council announced the launch of an online searchable database of such cases.

The council’s Cabinet member for environment, Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst said at the time: “The new Planning Enforcement Register, which is required by law, will be of great use to members of the public who want to find out more about all matters relating to planning enforcement.”