Written question asked by Allison Gardner (Labour) on Friday, 29 August 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 September 2025. It was answered by Matthew Pennycook (Labour) on Monday, 15 September 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Planning Permission
- Question
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the use of retrospective planning applications to regularise unauthorised development; and whether she plans to close loopholes that may undermine the effectiveness of local planning enforcement.
- Answer
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Enforcement is at the discretion of local planning authorities. They have a wide range of powers with strong penalties for non-compliance and it is for them to decide how and when they use those powers depending on the circumstances of each case.
The government has no plans to amend local planning authorities’ enforcement powers at this time. We will, however, continue to keep the operation of the enforcement system under review.
With regard to capacity and capability, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to question UIN 67508 on 14 July 2025.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 72449
- Session
- 2024-26
- Related items
- Grouped for answer
- Yes
- Subjects
- Planning permission
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2026-01-23 09:38:26 +0000
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- http://data.parliament.uk/writtenparliamentaryquestion/commons/2024-25/72449
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