Carlisle City Council (04C13744)

Planning applications                 Maladmininstration causing injustice

16 January 2006

‘Mr and Mrs Callahan’ (not their real names) complained about the Council’s handling of a planning application for a substantial extension to their neighbour’s home.

The Council accepted that it failed to notify the Callahans, who occupied the property most affected by the proposed development. It explains that the error arose from misinterpreting the house numbering and street names where the turning heads of two cul-de-sacs converged. However, the onus was on the Council to ensure consultation and that notification was properly conducted. This it failed to do and that was maladministration.

There were other significant failures in the procedure followed by the Council and, as a result, the Council modified its procedures in a variety of ways from the initial validation of new applications. The Ombudsman commended the Council for reviewing and amending its procedures to remove, as far as is reasonably practicable, faults and failures in the planning process caused by human error.

The Ombudsman recommended that the Council pay £500 to Mr and Mrs Callahan towards their expense in moving home and for their time and trouble in pursuing their complaint.

Date Updated: 13/08/09