MP Challenges Government on Retrospective Planning Applications

11.36.38am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Aug 2006

Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, has challenged the Government to address concerns about the number of retrospective planning applications submitted to local planning authorities. Mr Lamb has written to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly, to ask why the Government has still failed to make an announcement on the issue.

"Ministers had led us to believe that an announcement would be made in 2004, yet 2 years on and still we have heard nothing," said Norman Lamb. "The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation paper on the Review of the Planning Enforcement System in 2002, which North Norfolk District Council responded to. In 2004, the Council passed a motion noting the failure of the Government to respond to the concerns it had raised, and in now 2006 we are still waiting."

"It is time that the Government took action to tackle those who drive a coach and horses through the planning rules. Those who flout the rules should pay a penalty."

"It is time for the Government to give a response and to say whether or not reforms are going to happen."