Unlawful buildings left standing as councils run out of time to act
Councils across England are failing to tackle unlawful developments before legal deadlines expire, leaving communities permanently unable to challenge buildings that break planning rules.
Our latest report, entitled Losing Control, reveals planning enforcement complaints now make up nearly half (47%) of all upheld planning cases - up from just 26% in 2021-22. Many cases drifting for years without resolution and poor communication between teams is causing missed deadlines.
The report sets out learning points to help councils act faster and better protect communities.
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James Strachan appointed new Director
We have appointed James Strachan as our new Director of Corporate Services.
James joins us in April from Eastleigh Borough Council in Hampshire, where he has served as Chief Executive for the past four years. He brings a wealth of experience from across local and central government, having previously held the role of Business Development Director at Southampton City Council and a range of senior positions at Hampshire County Council.
James also has significant Whitehall experience, having worked at the Cabinet Office and served as a Director at the National Archives.
In this newly-created role, James will join the Ombudsman’s Executive Team and lead the corporate services function, overseeing the organisation’s Policy and Communications, Human Resources, IT, Operational Support, Projects and Committee & Governance teams.
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Listening and Learning: Updates from Our Advisory Forums
Our Advisory Forums continue to play a vital role in shaping how we work, bringing together members of the public and council representatives to help us improve our services.
In January, our public Advisory Forum met to discuss three key areas. First, we explored how we share our data — looking at what information is most useful to people and how it can be presented more effectively. Second, we discussed how to help people navigate the complaints process, including plans to produce clearer public-facing guidance and resources such as factsheets and short videos. Third, members raised questions about what the Ombudsman can and cannot investigate, prompting an open discussion about our role, the powers we have, and how we can better manage public expectations.
Our council forum has been equally active, with representatives discussing updates to our remedies guidance — including changes designed to make recommendations more specific and meaningful. Councils also shared experiences around service improvement recommendations, the challenges of working with commissioned providers, and how learning from complaints can be better shared across organisations.
Feedback from both groups directly influences our work, and we are grateful to all members for their time and candour.
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