Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s planning permission for a development. We will not investigate this complaint because the matter is out of time.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s planning permission for a development.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I have considered the comments of the complainant and the Council and the complainant was given an opportunity to comment on the draft decision.

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What I found

4. The Council granted planning permission for a large number of dwellings in November 2018. The planning permission contained a legal agreement with the developer regarding costal maintenance. Mr X argues that this was inappropriate and does not protect the local environment.
5. Whilst Mr X’s correspondence with the Council has continued I consider that a complaint about the matter could have been reasonably made to this office within 12 months of the planning permission decision. The complaint is therefore out of time and so out of jurisdiction.

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Final decision

6. I do not intend to investigate this complaint because the complaint is late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman