Council faults did not undermine decision to approve sports stadium redevelopment

Archived press release

Date Published: 27/01/09

Administrative faults by Bristol City Council in the approval process for a sports stadium redevelopment scheme did not undermine the decision.

Administrative faults by Bristol City Council in the approval process for a sports stadium redevelopment scheme did not undermine the decision, finds Local Government Ombudsman, Jerry White. In his report, issued today (27 January 2009) he says: “In my view, the maladministration I have identified was at the margins of the complex consideration that the Council had to give to this development proposal.”

He adds: “In those circumstances, although I recognise the complainants’ outrage that the Council’s failings will have caused, their injustice is insufficient for me to recommend to the Council that any compensation payments are due.”

Thirty residents who live close to an established sports stadium complained that there were errors in the way the Council dealt with a planning application for its redevelopment and enlargement. They said they would be caused an avoidable loss of amenity, and suffer increased levels of disturbance, inconvenience and pollution from increased traffic.

The Ombudsman asks the Council to put right failings that he says have “needlessly given rise to suspicion“. It should review the implementation of its policies and procedures in respect of:

• consultation on planning applications;
• consideration of environmental impact;
• substitution of Members at Planning Committees; and
• its Planning Code of Conduct.

Report ref 07B02878 + 29 others