There should be stiffer penalties for people who build without planning permission, according to the Town and Country Planning Association. People are deliberately not seeking planning permission because of the confidence of winning any subsequent enforcement appeals, the TCPA says. Planning inspectors should be given powers to fine offenders. The TCPA also wants to end the defence of “existing use”: instead, evidence that there have been no complaints could be put forward as a justification for keeping the building.
Enforcement powers and penalties tend to be ineffective when used against a determined or well-resourced contravener, TCPA director David Hall says. “The current enforcement system is slow, uncertain, expensive and potentially damaging to the enforcing authorities.”
