Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe is calling for an inquiry into Birmingham's planning department saying residents have 'lost trust' after a series of controversial blunders.
The Labour MP described the mistakes as outrageous and demanded a full investigation into the department.
His comments come after a 57 ft phone mast in the Bournville conservation area was granted planning permission by default because officials missed a deadline to decide the issue. Residents had submitted petitions opposing the mast.
He was among residents and campaigners who attended a protest at the earmarked site on the corner of Heath Road and Hawthorne Road at the weekend.
An earlier similar mast plan had been refused by officials in February after attracting 107 letters of objection over its size. It was likely this follow up plan would also have been rejected had it been presented to the council's planning committee on time.
The assistant director of planning Richard Cowell has apologised over the mistake. A high number of vacancies in the department have been blamed for placing staff under increased pressure.
Despite securing permission, telecom company Vodafone has agreed to consider alternative sites in the area and will hold talks with the Bournville Village Trust.
It is the second time in recent weeks that an application has failed to be decided within the standard 56-day time limit.
In March the council missed an opportunity to reject plans for giant advertising billboards next to the M6 at Witton, meaning the final say now rests with a Government inspector.
And last year in Stirchley, another area represented by McCabe, the council had to withdraw planning permission for a new Lidl store in Stirchley because they had ignored council planning policies protecting leisure facilities such as the gym and bowling alley on the site.
Eventually Lidl had the facilities demolished anyway clearing the way for a new store.
Mr McCabe said: "It is simply outrageous that because of incompetence in the planning department this application for a huge phone mast in the Bournville conservation area is being approved by default.
"The application was objected to by 100s of local residents. Residents are rightly outraged and are demanding answers. How can we have any faith in the planning process when officers cannot get the basics right?
“I have written to the chief executive of the council asking her to launch in inquiry into the practices and management of the planning department.
"We cannot have a situation where residents have no trust in the planning department and developers can get away with building what they like, where they like by launching legal challenges against planning decisions the Council cannot defend.”
Two weeks ago planning committee chairman Cllr Mike Sharpe stated that the department was under 'significant pressure' due to the number of vacant posts.
The city's chief planning officer and several staff have resigned from the council recent months. But assistant direct Mr Cowell that vacancies did not lead to the error with the Bournville application.
The council has not yet responded to Mr McCabe's call.
