Northumberland County Council (26 009 888)
Category : Planning > Planning applications
Decision : Closed after initial enquiries
Decision date : 16 Jul 2026
The Ombudsman's final decision:
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about how the Council handled a planning application and his reports of planning breaches. The complaint is late and there are no good reasons for us to exercise discretion to consider it now.
The complaint
- Mr X complained about how the Council handled a planning application for a development close to his home. Mr X also complained about how it handled his reports he made to its planning enforcement team.
- Mr X said the development negatively impacts the enjoyment of his 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 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.
- I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
- Mr X complained about how the Council handled a planning application for a development close to his home. The application was submitted in June 2016.
- Mr X said the Council did not address concerns raised by residents, ignored advice from statutory bodies, and went on to ignore his later reports of planning breaches.
- The application Mr X complains about was approved in August 2018. Mr X complains about various issues related to the Council’s handling of it between 2016-2021.
- As outlined in paragraph four, we cannot investigate late complaints without good reasons. Mr X complained to the Ombudsman in July 2026. I have not seen any reasons why Mr X could not have complained to us sooner. For this reason, we will not investigate.
- Mr X made his reports to the Council’s planning enforcement team more recently, in April 2024. Mr X said the Council did not tell him about its decision not to act, until June 2026.
- While Mr X said he became aware of the outcome in June 2026, I do not see any good reasons why he did not complain to the Ombudsman earlier. For this reason, we will also not investigate this part of Mr X’s complaint.
Final decision
- We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons why he could not have complained to us sooner.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman