THE Chair of a planning panel says it is vital that its members are impartial, even if applications are submitted retrospectively.

Councillor Shabir Hussain (Lab, Manningham), chair of the Bradford Area Planning Panel, came under fire after comments he made regarding retrospective applications during a meeting last week.

During a discussion over retrospective plans for a rear extension to 149 Wilmer Road in Manningham, Councillor Riaz Ahmed (Lib Dem, Bradford Moor) said he was opposed to applications being submitted after building work had already been done.

Cllr Hussain responded saying: "If you are against retrospective plans, you shouldn't be on this panel.

"The applicants pay their fees just like everyone else. We take money from these people, we need to treat them fairly."

After his comments were published, he was heavily criticised, with members of the public calling for him to stand down as chair.

Bradford Civic Society said the comments: "Risk undermining the whole purpose of having a fair and robust planning system that promotes positive and well-considered development of our city."

They added: "The civic society acknowledges that there is a role for retrospective planning applications, and that such instances should not by automatically pre-judged, but we would stop short of encouraging them as being the norm, rather than the exception."

People are legally allowed to submit retrospective planning applications for developments where work has already been completed without permission, and Councils have to treat them the same as regular applications. However they are seen as unpopular, as they can lead to years long legal wrangles if refused.

In response to the criticism, Cllr Hussain said: "I do sometimes wish the Council could adopt a law to stop retrospective applications, but at the moment they are legal.

"With every application we have to look at it fairly. I'm chair of the panel, and if someone pays their money to submit a planning application, we have to look at it fairly. You can't go into these panels with your mind already made up about an application. You can't go in saying 'I'm going to refuse this' without hearing all the facts.

"I've been on planning panels for years and I do the best I can to be fair to everyone. It is not that I'm in favour of retrospective applications, but when they do come up before a panel they have to be given a fair hearing. You have to follow procedure, and the law says people are allowed to submit retrospective applications."

He pointed out that the committee regularly refuses retrospective applications, and at last week's meeting alone the committee voted to refuse retrospective plans for bedsits on Leylands Lane and decking to the rear of a house on Durham Terrace.