Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (24 020 783)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a planning enforcement case regarding a ‘house in multiple occupation’ which does not have planning permission. This is because:

London Borough of Hillingdon (24 023 444)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 02-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about the Council’s planning enforcement. There is not a good reason for the delay in Mr X bringing the matter to the Ombudsman.

East Hertfordshire District Council (25 000 689)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 01-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with a breach of planning control or its decision to register the complainant’s property as an Asset of Community Value. This is because the complainant had the right to appeal.

London Borough of Croydon (24 009 141)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 29-May-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council wrongly approved a planning application for a development next to her property. There was no evidence of fault in how the Council considered the planning application. The Council delayed in dealing with Mrs X’s complaint at stage two of its complaints procedure which caused frustration to her. The Council has apologised to Mrs X for the delay which was an appropriate and proportionate remedy.

Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (24 010 948)

Statement Not upheld Enforcement 28-May-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s handling of his report of a breach of planning control near his home. We found no fault in how the Council reached its decision not to take enforcement action against the breach.

Mole Valley District Council (24 015 178)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 27-May-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to take prompt enforcement action against her neighbours’ breach of planning permission. We found the Council to be at fault because it allowed the case to drift and so took too long to act. This caused Mrs X avoidable frustration, time and trouble. To remedy this injustice, the Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X, made a symbolic payment and improve its customer service.

Lancaster City Council (24 022 353)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 27-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council failing to deal with dilapidated properties in part of a town in its area and it not responding to a Councillor’s concerns about the matter over two years ago. There is insufficient significant personal injustice to Mr X caused by the matters complained of to warrant us investigating. Investigation of the Council’s handling of the Councillor’s correspondence would not achieve a worthwhile outcome. We do not investigate councils’ complaint handling where we are not investigating the core issue giving rise to the complaint.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (24 008 444)

Statement Upheld Enforcement 26-May-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly investigate and enforce breaches of planning control he reported on a site near his home, which he said affected his privacy and caused issues with drainage. The Council took too long to decide there was no breach of planning control and did not properly explain its decision making to Mr X. This caused avoidable distress for Mr X, and for others who lived near the site and raised enforcement concerns across the same period. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and others, and pay a financial remedy to Mr X. It will also issue reminders to planning enforcement staff.

Teignbridge District Council (24 018 861)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 26-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to take action against a breach of planning control. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s actions and further investigation will not lead to a different outcome.

London Borough of Haringey (24 021 372)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Enforcement 26-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission. This is because the complaint is late and we have seen no reason why Mr X could not have complained to us sooner.