Ealing council criticised over roof extension error

Ealing Council has been criticised by the Local Government Ombudsman for allowing a roof extension to be built that was larger than should have been permitted.

The West London borough fell foul of the watchdog following a complaint about a lawful development certificate issued for the extension.

In a report the Ombudsman said the extension was "particularly imposing" when viewed from the home of the neighbour who complained.

The Ombudsman issued a report that said the council was wrong to issue a certificate for the extension as the work in question exceeded the levels allowed under permitted development.

The watchdog said the council should have recognised that planning permission was needed - and that this was unlikely to have been granted.

As a result, concluded the watchdog, the neighbour would have to live next to an extension significantly larger than would have been the case had the planning authority dealt with the case properly.

The Ombudsman has recommended a compensation payment to the neighbour based on the difference between the value of her property after the extension and what it would have been had the house been extended within the allowable parameters.

The council has also been recommended to pay the neighbour £500 for her time and trouble bringing the complaint.

In addition the council has been advised to ensure erroneous lawful development certificates are not issued in the future.

Read the Local Government Ombudsman news story

Roger Milne

19 December 2007