Abstract

The departure point for this investigation is to highlight the centrality of regulation theory as a praxis in planning enforcement. Thevalue of the conceptual framework is demonstrated by application in the problematic arena of conservation regulatory compliance,where there is currently a dearth of investigation. It is evidenced that this thematic approach provides a lens to scrutiniseproblematic areas of control and provides a deeper understanding of the difficulties faced by planning enforcement operationalpractice generally and heritage regimes specifically. The utility of the proposed mechanism is that it remedies the current, welldocumented, pitfalls of disjointed, piecemeal strategies by providing a framework for robust, coherent decision making not onlyin planning but in the wider regulatory arena.