Planning (Hansard, 13 February 2004)

§ Diana Organ
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on retrospective planning applications. [154639]

§ Keith Hill
Local planning authorities can invite a retrospective planning application for unauthorised development where they judge that there are no planning objections to it. Otherwise, authorities have wide ranging enforcement powers to control development undertaken without planning permission.

§ Diana Organ
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons retrospective planning applications are treated in the same way as other applications. [154641]

§ Keith Hill
When development has been carried out to an acceptable standard, or it can be made acceptable by the imposition of conditions attached to a grant of planning permission, it is reasonable to enable the developer or landowner to obtain permission after the event. The considerations applying in determining a planning application will in general be the same regardless of whether or not the development has taken place.

§ Diana Organ
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will impose a system of penalties for carrying out development in advance of obtaining planning applications. [154642]

§ Keith Hill
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are carrying out a review of the planning enforcement system in England. Retrospective planning applications, including whether any penalties should be imposed, and retrospective planning permission are part of that review. We expect to announce the outcome of the review later this year.