London Borough of Hackney (25 023 502)
Category : Planning > Planning applications
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 09 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a two-storey extension to a house behind the complainant’s home. Planning permission for the extension was granted by the Planning Inspector. The law says we cannot investigate complaints about the Planning Inspector.
The complaint
- Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a two-storey extension to a house behind his parent’s home.
- He says the Council failed to tell his parents about the application and failed to consider the impact of the extension on them and their home.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
- The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
- We cannot investigate complaints about actions which are not the administrative function of a council. This includes decisions made by the Planning Inspector.
(Local Government Act 1974, section 26(1) as amended).
How I considered this complaint
- I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complains the Council granted planning permission for a two-storey extension to a house behind his parent’s home. He says the Council failed to tell his parents about the application.
- The Council says it notified 22 residents about the application, including writing to Mr X’s parent’s address. It also placed a notice in the local paper.
- I do not know why Mr X’s parents did not receive a notification from the Council. However, I do not consider this caused any injustice because the Council refused the planning application.
- The developer appealed to the Planning Inspector against the Council’s decision to refuse their application.
- The Planning Inspector granted permission for the two-storey extension.
Final decision
- We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint because the decision to grant planning permission for the two-storey extension was made by the Planning Inspector, not the Council. The law prevents us from considering complaints about the actions of the Planning Inspector.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman