Liverpool City Council (24 011 399)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 23-Dec-2025

Summary: The complaint is on behalf of a residents’ group and about the Council planning team’s inaction over a breach of planning control. The Ombudsman finds the Council was not at fault for its decisions around how to deal with the breach it found. But there was fault by way of delay, not providing updates and not keeping records of key actions. This will have caused the residents some frustration and uncertainty. Delayed complaint responses led to avoidable time and trouble. The Council has agreed to apologise, provide an update and make a symbolic payment for the avoidable time and trouble.

Wiltshire Council (25 008 520)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 23-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of an officer at a planning committee meeting. The meeting took place in 2023 and it is too late to complain about this now. Mr X also complains the Council failed to take enforcement action on reports of breaches of planning control. We have not seen enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation on this matter.

Ashford Borough Council (25 008 476)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 22-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to acted swiftly on Mr X’s reports of breaches of planning control and environmental harm and failure to protect approved plans. It is too late to complain about matters Mr X was aware of before 2024. Also we have not seen enough evidence of fault in the way the Council considered Mr X’s report of breaches of planning control. Finally, Mr X can appeal against the Council’s decision to serve him with a building notice.

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (25 000 386)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 20-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s approval of a planning application in 2022 and its decision to close an enforcement case in 2023. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr X could not have complained to us sooner.

Eastleigh Borough Council (24 023 106)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 19-Dec-2025

Summary: We have completed our investigation into how the Council dealt with Mrs X’s allegations of planning breaches and her complaint. We find no fault in the way the Council made its decisions and responded to the complaint.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 002 219)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 19-Dec-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s actions relating to a planning breach at a property near to his. We do not find any fault in the Council’s actions. The Council has sufficiently considered the breach and chosen not to take any enforcement action. This is a decision for the Council to make. We do not uphold this complaint.

Central Bedfordshire Council (25 010 009)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 19-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to enforce the terms of a legal agreement with the builder of the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint is made too late.

North Yorkshire Council (25 010 300)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 19-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with breaches of planning control. This is because we are unlikely to find fault.

West Lindsey District Council (25 011 503)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning applications 19-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council considered a planning application. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions to warrant an investigation.

North Northamptonshire Council (24 013 166)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 18-Dec-2025

Summary: We upheld a complaint from Mr B about the Council’s response to concerns he had about the incomplete housing development he lives on. We found the Council’s planning enforcement service communicated poorly with Mr B, including after he complained, and it lacked a clear plan to tackle the issues he raised. These faults caused Mr B unnecessary uncertainty, time and trouble. The Council accepted these findings and at the end of this statement, we set out the action it agreed to take to remedy this injustice and improve its service.