Planning: Retrospective Applications

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Excerpts

Wednesday 15th June 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, I do not need reminding; I shall never forget the first day of the Housing and Planning Bill. It has not become a recurring nightmare yet, but I certainly heard the feeling of the House loud and clear. I totally concur with my noble friend’s point that regulations should be in draft and ready on time for proper consideration by this House.

[Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (LD)]

My Lords, at a time when local authority budgets are stretched and planning departments are often underfunded, does the Minister agree that it is time for the setting of planning fees to be delegated to local authorities, alongside the ability to impose heavy fines with enforcement action for those who knowingly flout planning regulations?