A PLANNING panel will no longer tolerate people building what they want first and seeking permission later, its chairman has warned.

Councillor Doreen Lee, who chairs the Bradford area planning panel, gave a stern warning to the people of Bradford that now she was leading the panel, it would be clamping down on the use of retrospective planning applications.

Cllr Lee (Lab, Keighley East) said: "There is a new chair and a new panel. I'm not having all these retrospective things coming in here, even if I have to put my head on the line. It's not happening."

But councillors spoke of their frustration that they could not make an example of someone who had built a rear dormer window in a bungalow roof without permission.

The panel, which met at City Hall yesterday, was considering whether to retrospectively approve the dormer, at Ennerdale Road, Bolton, Bradford.

The meeting heard applicant Mohammed Fayyaz had been refused permission for a rear dormer last year, but one was later built.

Enforcement officers stepped in, and the retrospective application had come forward.

Nearby resident June Kronbachs urged the panel to turn down the application, saying: "It should be made clear to everyone that if they flout planning laws, that they will not get away with it."

Ward councillor Tracey Leeming (Lib Dem, Bolton and Undercliffe), speaking to oppose the plan, claimed the applicant had "a bit of a pattern" of building structures, then applying for permission afterwards.

Mohammed Shafiq, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said Mr Fayyaz had worked with the planning department to make the design more acceptable.

He said: "Planning is a very complex issue. It's not always straightforward to understand."

Cllr Lee, who became chairman earlier this year, said: "I'm going to make this extremely clear to everyone in this room, and in the whole of Bradford, I don't like retrospective. I really, really don't like it.

"If you think you can flout the law of this land then get it into your heads, all of you - it ain't going to happen."

Cllr Malcolm Sykes (Con, Thornton and Allerton) agreed, saying: "I'm sick to the back teeth of seeing this type of retrospective applications come before panel, in the knowledge it will probably get passed."

He warned the examples they saw at planning committees were likely to be the "tip of the iceberg", with many more approved by officers.

Councillor Alan Wainwright (Lab, Tong) said: "The culture in Bradford, in certain parts of Bradford, regarding applications and especially retrospective plans, needs to change."

And Councillor Sarah Ferriby told Mr Fayyaz his actions had been "disrespectful to all involved".

But planning officer Mark Hutchinson said applicants were entitled to seek planning permission retrospectively.

The meeting also heard such a dormer window would probably be allowed under permitted development rules, without needing planning consent.

Mr Hutchinson said that by granting planning permission instead, the panel could make sure opaque glass was fitted in the windows to prevent the property overlooking a neighbour's home.

Cllr Lee said while she sympathised with residents, in this instance they had no choice but to approve Mr Fayyaz's application, "much as I would like to tell you to pull it down".

Speaking afterwards, Mr Fayyaz said: "I am a responsible citizen. I have not done anything against the law."

He said he had been in contact with planning officers throughout the process and had paid a substantial amount in planning fees.