Mr B’s story
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Mr B had added a caravan site to his agricultural land, for which the local council said he did not have planning permission. Mr B appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, who granted that planning permission. When the local council challenged that decision, the Planning Inspectorate reconsidered and agreed that their decision had been flawed. The decision to grant planning permission was quashed and Mr B’s case was considered afresh by the Planning Inspectorate.
Mr B incurred additional costs in having his case redetermined. The Planning Inspectorate told Mr B that they had guidance about how they would consider meeting those costs. Mr B was reassured that the scheme would cover his reasonable, additional costs. The Planning Inspectorate held a public inquiry and upheld the local council’s decision. Mr B was not granted planning permission for the caravan site.
Following the Planning Inspectorate’s decision, Mr B submitted a claim for his additional costs, which he said amounted to £35,013. In response, the Planning Inspectorate said that despite their previously published guidance, they had taken a decision not to offer any payments unless the Ombudsman recommended that they do so.
After the Ombudsman’s investigation, the Planning Inspectorate apologised to Mr B, and paid his costs of £35,013 with interest, along with £500 in recognition of the inconvenience they had caused him.
