Are retrospective planning applications handled differently?

No. Retrospective planning applications have to be handled in exactly the same way as any other applications. In legal terms, they cannot be ‘punished’ for being retrospective. This means that:

(a) they have to be judged only on their planning merits against adopted planning policies and other material planning considerations. The fact that development has already been carried out does not weigh in the balance against them.

(b) They pay the same planning application fees as other proposed developments of the same type. There is no surcharge for being retrospective and any planning authority seeking to impose such a surcharge would be acting unlawfully.

(c) The planning authority can either decide to grant planning permission, with or without conditions, or refuse planning permission on the basis of its assessment of the planning merits of the case.