Somerset Council (23 003 267)
Category : Planning > Planning applications
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 18 Jul 2023
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about planning permission granted by the Council because the complaint is out of time.
The complaint
- Ms X complains that the Council failed to properly consider the impact on her property when planning permission was granted to a neighbour for an extension.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- 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)
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Ms X’s neighbour submitted a planning application for an extension in April 2021. Ms X made two objections to the planning application but the Council granted the planning application in June 2021.
- I see no reason why a complaint about this matter could not have been made to this office within 12 months of the grant of planning permission. The complaint is therefore out of time and out of jurisdiction.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman