A woman who failed to comply with a council planning notice has been ordered to pay more than £1,300 by a court.
Carol Hadian of North Road, St Leonards failed to apply for planning permission to change the use of a building from business use to residential use.
A planning contravention notice was served by Hastings Borough Council’s enforcement team on Hadian on March 19.
It requested Hadian provide detailed information of the change of use by April 9.
Last week Hastings magistrates found Hadian guilty in her absence at a court hearing.
Magistrates fined her the maximum amount of £1000, with costs of £243 and a victim surcharge of £100.
To prevent further prosecution, Hadian will be required to secure the necessary permissions for the change of use or revert to using the property for business purposes only.
Councillor Peter Chowney, lead member for regeneration, said: “We take breaches of PCNs seriously and will prosecute those that do not comply.
“I would urge owners that want to make changes to their properties to contact our planning departments for advice before going ahead and risk enforcement action.”
A planning contravention notice may be issued under Section 171C of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. It may only be served when it appears to the local planning authority that a breach of planning control may have occurred and they want to find out more information before deciding what if any enforcement action to take.