Planning breaches – Naming and shaming the only answer

BY any yardstick, the lack of response from local authorities to public complaints about breaches of the planning laws is reprehensible.

So widespread is this trend that Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has urged councils to improve their track record on enforcing planning regulations.

In her first report, Ms O’Reilly pinpoints delays by officials in sending out warning letters, plus their failure to send out enforcement notices or take follow-up action to compel developers to comply with the law.