Or just anyone who knows more than me..
Would a normal search on a property for a buyer usually identify approved planning permission for a neighbouring (directly adjacent) property - particularly if the pp was for a high wall (11 ft) and an even higher studio less than 20 ft from, say, someone's kitchen window?
It's a long story, but my mum bought a new-build on a retirement estate (well-known company...); she knew there was a planning application relating to her neighbour's house (pre-existing, not part of the development) but no-one ever told her that pp had been granted, and the search didn't show up anything. The developer and solicitors are blaming each other (we have complained to both), and it would be good to know whose responsibility it should have been. Solicitor claims that a normal search woudn't show anything about a neighbouring property, and that she should have asked specifically if she'd wanted this - is this true?