Cotswold District Faces Planning Enforcement Backlog, Raising Concerns Over Unauthorised Development
Cotswold District Council is grappling with a substantial backlog of planning enforcement cases, with over 680 live cases as of last month. This has raised concerns that some unauthorised developments in the area could be going undetected and unchecked.
Details
At the latest full council meeting, Conservative Councillor Tom Stowe (Campden and Vale) highlighted the issue, noting that the backlog has been a “huge issue for several years” at the council. As of 9 March 2026, there were 684 live planning enforcement cases, with 420 of those designated as part of the backlog dating back to 31 December 2024 or earlier.
Housing and planning cabinet member Juliet Layton (LD) acknowledged the problem, explaining that the council’s planning enforcement team has recently been restructured, including the creation of two additional roles. Four of the six roles are currently filled, with plans to fill the final two positions by the end of March and in late March/early April.
Layton stated that the council hopes the fully staffed team will have the capacity to tackle the backlog in the coming months. However, she noted that the nature of planning enforcement means there will always be some outstanding cases, as formal action may be required if matters cannot be resolved through negotiation or a new planning application.
What You Need to Know
– Cotswold District Council faces a backlog of over 680 live planning enforcement cases
– Concerns have been raised that unauthorised developments could be going undetected due to the backlog
– The council is in the process of restructuring and expanding its planning enforcement team to address the issue
– The council aims to have the team at full staffing capacity by late March/early April 2026
– A scrutiny meeting with officers is planned in the coming months to discuss and answer questions about planning enforcement