LANDOWNERS across the county are being urged not to apply for planning permission retrospectively by Carmarthenshire Council - just weeks after the Guardian ran a story on the alarming increase in such applications.

Planning officers are investigating an increasing number of allegations of unauthorised development without complying with regulations.

By law, anyone can apply for planning permission retrospectively, but developers are being advised by council chiefs not to carry out such works before being granted consent.

Planning executive board member, Cllr Clive Scourfield, said: "We have never encouraged retrospective planning applications, and it is not a course of action we would ever recommend.

"They are not given favourable treatment. Our planning committee deals with them in exactly the same way as other applications.

"Applicants run the very real risk of having enforcement action taken against them, such as in the case of a building put up without planning consent,' said Cllr Scourfield "If it is later applied for and refused the applicants would have to take the structure down, all at great cost to themselves.

"People should be aware that if they decide to take this course of action, they are taking a potentially very costly, risk."

The plea comes two weeks after the Guardian ran the story about Llanfihangel Aberbythych rejecting a planning application on the grounds that it was made retrospectively.

County councillor for the area, Rhys Davies, said: "Retrospective planning is definitely a growing concern in Carmarthenshire.

"It seems that people who apply after they have built are in a better position than those who go down the correct route and apply before work starts," he said.