Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council deciding to grant outline planning permission for development near to the complainant’s home. The complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is nothing to suggest fault affected the Council’s decision.

The complaint

1. Mr B has complained the Council has granted outline planning permission for development near his home. He is particularly concerned about highways issues and noise levels within the development. He says the Council based its decision on inaccurate information about these issues.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’ which we call ‘fault’. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We may decide not to start an investigation if, for example, we believe it is unlikely we would find fault. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
3. We do not provide a right of appeal against a council’s decision on a planning application. We cannot question whether a council’s decision is right or wrong simply because the complainant disagrees with it. We must consider whether there was fault in the way the decision was reached that is likely to have affected the outcome. (Local Government Act 1974, section 34(3), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by Mr B which included the Council’s response to his concerns. I have also seen information on the Council’s website. I considered our Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The Council received an outline planning application for development near to Mr B’s home. It had to consider the planning merits of the application and grant planning permission if there were no valid grounds for refusal.
6. The Council publicised the application and Mr B sent his comments on it. A planning officer set out the planning issues in a report which addressed the issues Mr B had raised. The Council decided there were no valid grounds to refuse the application and so granted planning permission.
7. The Council has confirmed information provided by the local highways authority was appropriate. It will consider issues relating to noise when the developer submits a full application.

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Final decision

8. I have decided we will not investigate this complaint. While I recognise Mr B disagrees with the Council’s decision, we do not provide a right of appeal against it. I have seen nothing to suggest fault in how the Council considered the planning application and, in the absence of fault, cannot question its decision to grant outline planning permission.

Investigator’s decision on behalf of the Ombudsman

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman