Maidenhead & Windsor

Developers could face tough Windsor and Maidenhead council enforcement action if they fail to comply with the terms of their planning permissions.

That’s the message spelled out in a new Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough report that says if developers and applicants don’t stick to the pre-conditions imposed by the borough’s development control process they could find themselves facing delays while they submit a further planning application.

The proposal for what is described as ‘high profile enforcement’ will be discussed at a meeting of the council’s planning and environment overview and scrutiny panel tonight (Tuesday).

Cllr Derek Wilson, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead planning, said that while many developers and applicants here to their pre-conditions others do not, leading to a huge demand on planning enforcement officers’ time as they chase up complaints.

He explained: “We need to introduce a tougher approach, refocusing our efforts on working with developers and applicants before they start work to make sure they do everything their planning permission requires.

“Part of this is to remind them that if they don’t fulfil their pre-conditions, their planning permission could be undermined. This could result in them having to put in a new application for the work without the pre-conditions – causing them a great deal of inconvenience, cost and delays in valuable construction time.”

And if the application is not submitted, Windsor and Maidenhead council has a further weapon in its armoury – making a note of the breach of planning conditions in the local land charges register. This would show potential home buyers that the development did not have proper planning permission.

Cllr Wilson added: “We believe this approach will give developers and applicants a strong message that the council is determined to take action – and they can’t just do as they please.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead