Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a planning application as the planning application has not yet been determined and so any injustice is speculative.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains that the Council has not properly considered her objections to a nearby planning application.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or may decide not to continue with an investigation if we decide:

• there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating, or
• any fault has not caused injustice to the person who complained, or
• any injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

(Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6))

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

5. A planning application was submitted in October 2021 for development next to Ms X’s house. The Council’s website states that the planning decision is “pending”.
6. If no decision has been made then any injustice caused by the planning application is speculative. Ms X may make a complaint to this office if the planning application is granted.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman