DEVELOPERS who start building without council permission could be forced to pay more to submit a retrospective planning application.
Bromley Council is backing government plans to give local authorities the power to set fees for submitting planning applications, including the option to charge more for those handed in retrospectively.
Although the council will not be allowed to profit from the charges, it could increase prices to make sure the cost of processing each application is met by the fee paid by the developer.
The government is currently consulting local authorities on the proposed change, and the council’s executive decided to support the plans during a meeting on Wednesday.
Councillor Alexa Michael said: “Anybody who chooses to flout planning laws should be made to pay a surcharge.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here