Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a planning application. This is because we should not investigate late complaints. The application was approved in 2017. The plan showed the proximity of the development to Mrs X’s property. There is no good reason why Mrs X did not complain to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complained the Council did not handle a planning application correctly. She said it did not properly consider the impact that a proposed housing development would have on her property.

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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 considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

5. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint as it is late. Mrs X has known about the issue since 2017 and could have complained to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman