Ombudsman

If you think that The Planning Inspectorate haven't treated you fairly, you can ask the Ombudsman to investigate. You can't approach the Ombudsman direct - an MP must do it for you. This doesn't have to be your MP but this will usually be the easiest person to ask.

The Ombudsman has no power to question the merits of your appeal or to alter the decision. He or she is only concerned with the way The Planning Inspectorate deal with and administer appeals. The Ombudsman will usually expect you to have made a complaint to The Planning Inspectorate first before he or she investigates your case.

If you have a complaint about the way the local planning authority (LPA) dealt with your planning application, you can, in some cases, ask the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate.

However, the Local Government Ombudsman can't investigate a complaint about a planning decision just because you and the LPA don't agree about it. They have no power to alter the decision.