Reporting potential breaches of planning legislation to South Hams District Council

Feb 18, 2026 | Planning, Governance Policies

  1. Policy

  1. BPC Policy is to signpost Parishioners to report their concerns about potential breaches a planning legislation directly to South Hams District Council (SHDC), and

  2. BPC Policy is also to signpost to report other matters that are the responsibility of other Authorities, not to report on their behalf.

  1. Background

Planning enforcement reports made to SHDC are confidential.

Reports can be made by phone although online reports are preferred.

The SHDC website says that unless you have a good reason for not giving SHDC your details, and explain why, anonymous complaints will not normally be investigated and cannot be reported online. The formal Policy is to not accept anonymous reports.

In making this Policy BPC has considered:

  • The Parishioner affected or already aware of the matter is able to make a better report because they have a direct understanding of the details of the matter.

  • Unnecessary delays in reporting are avoided.

  • Parish Council administrative time is saved.

  • BPC is not the responsible authority. Reports from BPC are not actioned differently by SHDC to reports from Parishioners.

  1. How to Report

Online reports are preferred.

    1. South Hams District Council

https://www.southhams.gov.uk/report-it

01803 861234

    1. Devon County Council

https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/report-a-problem/

0345 155 1004

    1. Blackawton Website

There are links to SHDC and DCC reporting webpages from the Blackawton Community Website:

https://blackawtoncommunity.com/

ADOPTED – BPC Meeting 9/2/26