Glossary
Stop notices and how London councils halt building work
An immediate order to cease unauthorised work. Often issued alongside an Enforcement Notice.
An immediate order to cease unauthorised work. Often issued alongside an Enforcement Notice.
A stop notice requires specified activity in breach of planning control to cease. It can only be served alongside or after an enforcement notice, takes effect no sooner than three days after service, and carries criminal liability. A temporary stop notice can be served on its own and lasts 56 days.
An enforcement notice gives a compliance period — usually months — and is suspended by an appeal. A stop notice bites almost immediately and is not suspended by an appeal against the underlying enforcement notice. It is the instrument used where harm would otherwise continue while the appeal runs.
Introduced to allow immediate action, a temporary stop notice can be served without an enforcement notice and requires activity to cease for up to 56 days while the council decides what to do. It is displayed on the land and takes effect on display.
Compensation. If the enforcement notice is later quashed, or the stop notice withdrawn, the council may be liable for losses caused. That risk means stop notices are used sparingly and usually where harm is obvious — demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area, or works to a listed building.
A worked Westminster example of stop notice: with 56 conservation areas — the Mayfair Conservation Area and the Belgravia Conservation Area among the best known — City of Westminster (Westminster City Council) sees stop notice constantly, and an Article 4 direction is in force there, so permitted development cannot be assumed. Where stop notice pushes a Westminster scheme out of permitted development, the route becomes a £548 application decided in 8 weeks rather than a £249 prior approval in 6 weeks.
| Requires | An enforcement notice, served with or before |
|---|---|
| Takes effect | No sooner than 3 days after service |
| Temporary stop notice | Up to 56 days, no enforcement notice needed |
| Appeal | No appeal against the stop notice itself |
| Breach | Criminal offence |
| Council risk | Compensation if the notice is quashed |
Not directly. You appeal the underlying enforcement notice, but the stop notice remains in force.
As soon as the notice takes effect — three days at the earliest, immediately for a temporary stop notice on display.
Yes, and it is prosecuted.
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