Commentary on Sections Part 3: Planning Control. Section 43: Notice requiring planning application to be made
A council may serve a notice on an owner or occupier requiring him or her to apply for planning permission for development which has been carried out without planning permission having been granted. The notice must now be served within 5 years of the date upon which the development was begun. It is an offence not to comply with this in the time specified within the notice.  Provision is made to deal with changes in ownership and the withdrawal of notices.