§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to strengthen the powers of local authorities to require retrospective planning applications. [136450]
§ Ms Beverley HughesNone. Local planning authorities can already invite a retrospective planning application in respect of unauthorised development where they judge that there are no planning objections to it. Otherwise, authorities already have wide ranging enforcement powers to control development undertaken without planning permission. We have no current plans to strengthen these powers further.