A local MP is calling for action to be taken against any developers who don't stick to planning conditions.

Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives and West Cornwall, has demanded that Cornwall Council’s Head of Enforcement takes action when any developments are in breach of planning conditions.

Mr Thomas claims there has been a number of recent developments that have flouted planning laws and he is calling on the government to give local councils more powers to enforce their planning conditions.

The MP said he has received many complaints from local residents in his constituency, but he claimed Cornwall Council’s Enforcement Team have not been robust enough in their response.

The council are, however, compromised by the threat of long drawn-out legal challenges, and Mr Thomas is asking the ministers responsible for planning to address this within their proposals for planning reform.

One solution he is proposing is the introduction of ‘on-the-spot’ fixed penalty for developers and contractors for obvious breaches of planning approval.

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Derek Thomas said: "We need to have confidence in the planning system, and people need to know that the rules are enforced quickly and fairly.

"It is not enough to rely on reinstatement if retrospective planning permission is not granted: mature trees [for example] cannot be reinstated.

"I do understand that the Council don’t want to run the risk of legal challenges that will cost time and money, and I’m working with the Planning Minister to make some simple changes that will act as a deterrent to those who have no respect for the planning process."

In response to the comments, a spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "All Councils have to consider the advice set out in the National Planning Practice Guidance issued by the Government.

"When serious breaches of planning control are identified and where either the planning process or negotiations fail to resolve the matter, the Council will proceed to formal action if it is expedient to do so.

"The national guidance states that local planning authorities should usually avoid taking formal enforcement action where; there is a trivial or technical breach of control which causes no material harm or adverse impact; development is acceptable on its planning merits and formal enforcement action would solely be to regularise the development

"The Council is working to strengthen its planning policies, including through the Climate Emergency DPD that Full Council this week agreed to progress to examination by the Government, and looks forward to working with Cornwall’s MPs to achieve this."