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.”