The matter of expediency has recently come into focus through Birmingham MP Steve McCabe who has brought forward to the House of Commons the Protection of Family Homes (Enforcement & Permitted Development) Bill. The first reading of the Bill, which has cross party support, can be seen here (http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/744602c3-74fd-40d2-a353-19510c434146?in=12:41:55). 

Whilst any debate around the topic of planning enforcement is always welcome, I am not convinced that the content of the Bill will in any way aid enforcement officers in their day to day work, in fact it may even prove to be a hindrance, especially with the proposed right to appeal a decision not to take action. I am also slightly puzzled as to how a local authority would fine a developer when it is not considered expedient to take enforcement action given that it a well-established principle that enforcement action should be remedial rather than punitive.

With that in mind the government does seem to now be taking a harder line on planning enforcement with the introduction of the planning enforcement fund for planning injunctions and the recently announced £5m pot to tackle the continuing problem of beds in sheds.

The second reading of the Bill is scheduled for 26th January 2016. It will be interesting to see how these proposals progress and whether this is the beginning of a shift in policy towards enforcement action being punitive rather than just remedial in certain cases.