The planning regulations are in place to give some semblance of order and management to the way in which new buildings are erected, extended or otherwise altered. Without them there would be a chaotic free-for-all with people building where they liked with no regard for other people.

However, that is a situation which at least one councillor believes is on the way, if not already partially here. Coun Howard Middleton has complained that planning enforcement in the Bradford district is not as rigorous as it could be.

Enforcement is what happens – or should happen – when people embark upon projects with no regard for the regulations, and start building or altering properties without the required planning permission.

According to Coun Middleton, there is a culture of ploughing ahead regardless and then applying for retrospective planning permission if anyone raises objections.

It may, however, not be quite as bad as Coun Middleton’s picture of a “corrosive” planning landscape – Coun Val Slater responded that more retrospective planning permission was being granted because more people doing builds without initial permission are being spotted by the planning team.

If that is the case, then it is good that the Council is keeping a closer eye on what is happening. If those projects that go ahead without permission do fall inside the guidelines, and are ultimately given approval then all well and good.

But the regulations are there for a reason, and existing residents and householders must be protected from ad hoc building that seeks to sneak in under the radar. Where appropriate, the toughest enforcement action must be used.