Calls for crackdown on landlords and developers who breach planning laws
Resident groups claim Camden’s ‘lackadaisical’ approach is putting High Streets at risk
Published: 17 June 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS
HUNDREDS of planning breaches dating back to April 2004 are still unresolved by Camden council’s planning department.
And figures released to the New Journal under the Freedom of Information Act also show that in the past five years, Camden has taken only two landlords to court for planning breaches.
Planning officers said there are currently 753 breaches on their files that “have not been closed or subject to formal enforcement action” dating back five years.
The department looked at 5,511 reported breaches over the past five years.
Resident groups have also been critical of what they see as council’s “lackadaisical” response to changes made by landlords and property developers without the right permission.
These can include switching the use of a building without permission, which in turn can have an effect on amenities in a neighbourhood.
In Kentish Town, residents have warned poor planning has led to a saturation of cafés and restaurants. In other areas, estate agents dominate.
Caroline Hill, of Kentish Town Road Action, said: “High Streets are dying because shops are being lost to restaurants and estate agents. Look at Highgate and Hampstead.
“Kentish Town may be a bit scruffy but it’s very useful and we don’t want that to change.”
The department has improved in recent months due to new staff, she added, but said it took a lot of work to achieve change.
“I think it was extremely badly organised and groups like ours had to make a huge fuss,” she said.
Brian Woodrow, a former planning chairman at Camden, said he thought the department suffered from a lack of resources but warned that fighting planning breaches involved, from his experience, “sheer frustration”.
He added: “You had a report last year criticising the system. The question is: has it improved? what’s being done about it?
“It means increasing the staff there and to check out the system.”
Martin Morton, of Camden’s Civic Society, said: “On enforcement Camden are extremely slow. I think there should be a few more prosecutions – it would concentrate people’s minds.”
He also called for more resources, adding that without it the planning system is “brought in to disrepute”.
A Town Hall press officer said: “The council works hard to ensure that planning permission is sought or that planning breaches are identified and dealt with appropriately.
“It is not always necessary or in the best interests of the council or local residents to prosecute for minor breaches.
“Nevertheless we will prosecute where appropriate and such cases often result in heavy fines.”
She added: “We are aware that there have been historical problems in the system and we are taking action to improve this. We are doing all we can to improve our working practices by introducing additional staff and resources to cope with the significant workload.”