Hart District Council (21 007 534)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 02-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr Y complains that inaccurate pre-application planning advice provided by the Council in 2018 contributed to substantial losses when he pursued a planning application which the Council later refused. We have discontinued our investigation into Mr Y’s complaint for the reasons explained in this statement.

West Devon Borough Council (21 015 980)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 25-Feb-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council delayed giving advice on a planning development. We cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants. He may reasonably use his legal remedies or options available within the planning system.

South Cambridgeshire District Council (21 007 845)

Statement Upheld Planning advice 24-Jan-2022

Summary: Mrs X says the Council failed to inform her that a sequential test was necessary before she submitted a planning application. There was fault by the Council because the planning officer Mrs X consulted was unaware of the sequential test requirement. The complaint was closed because the Council already acted to remedy the injustice to Mrs X.

High Peak Borough Council (21 013 841)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 20-Jan-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council wrongly advised his buyers that he had not built a new house in accordance with the approved plans. This is because it would have been reasonable for Mr X to make an application to challenge the Council’s view and to appeal against any refusal.

Bedford Borough Council (21 012 027)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 14-Dec-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about the actions of the Parish Council or independent examiner in creating and processing a neighbourhood development plan as they are not bodies within our jurisdiction. We will not investigate the actions of the Borough Council as we could not say they caused Ms X injustice and we cannot stop the making of the plan or change its contents.

Erewash Borough Council (21 011 441)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 09-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the complainant’s tree works application. It is reasonable to expect the complainant to have used her right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to challenge the Council’s decision, and any injustice arising from the other alleged faults is not significant enough to justify the Ombudsman pursuing them further.

Birmingham City Council (21 010 749)

Statement Upheld Planning advice 08-Dec-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s pre-application advice service. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The Council has already provided an appropriate response to address the complaint.

South Kesteven District Council (21 006 826)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 19-Oct-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council gave poor advice and delayed dealing with his planning application. Mr X complains late and could reasonably have appealed the delay to the planning inspector.

Cherwell District Council (21 006 749)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Planning advice 13-Oct-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council gave him wrong information before he bought his home. There is insufficient evidence of Council fault. It is reasonable for Mr X to use his legal remedy at court if he has evidence of Council negligence.

Havant Borough Council (20 008 921)

Statement Upheld Planning advice 23-Sep-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council gave factually incorrect information about the requirements of the building regulations. The Ombudsman found there was fault causing injustice which the Council agreed to remedy.