Thanks for your replies.
I just had a look through the local borough planning site and found out that the developers actually applied for retrospective planning permission for the balcony line at about the time I became interested in the flat and they received the refusal from council 2 days...
I purchased a flat in Feb 2010 - the building was completed in 2009.
9mths after I moved in received a notice that there wasn't planning permission for the balustrade/ handrail position so close to the parapet. This was fought by the developers unsuccessfully.
I was compensated for the...