Council criticised over planning errors in own development

Greenwich Council has been heavily criticised by the Local Government Ombudsman over the way it handled its own application for an extension to a school.

The watchdog found maladministration causing injustice and recommended that the London planning authority pays five complainants a total of £3,500 in compensation.

The ombudsman has also urged the local authority to reviews its procedures for considering applications for council developments.

In a report the watchdog said there was justifiable outrage at the way the council dealt with an application to build a single-storey and two-storey extension to one of its schools.

The development was larger than indicated by the approved plans, some of the letters to neighbours informing them of the plans were incorrectly addressed and the council acknowledged it failed to apply for listed building and conservation area consents, both of which were required.

The Ombudsman said: "As it was considering its own proposals for development, the council should have ensured that it was meticulous in complying with procedures for considering the application and that it was transparent in doing so. Its failure to do here undermines the council's ability to earn the trust of the public."

Roger Milne

16 October 2008