®Planning appeal decision
Land Rear of East Lodge, East Drive, Oaklands Lane, Smallford, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0HU
Planning appeal 3261865 at Land Rear of East Lodge, East Drive, Oaklands Lane, Smallford, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0HU (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 10 December 2021 by Inspector Fallon R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and if so, the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt.
described on the application form as “Outline Application with all matters reserved for the construction of a new detached dwelling and detached garage with new access
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Fallon R
- Postcode
- AL4 0HU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and if so, the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
- if the development is inappropriate, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development causing moderate harm to Green Belt openness and purpose, with no very special circumstances clearly outweighing this harm, and the Green Belt protection in the Framework displaces the presumption in favour of sustainable development.
The limited benefits of housing delivery and economic activity from a single dwelling do not clearly outweigh the moderate harm to the openness and purpose of the Green Belt, which was given substantial weight.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 38Paragraph 147Paragraph 148Paragraph 149Paragraph 150Paragraph 219
- Judgments
- Wood v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Gravesham Borough Council [2014] EWHC 683 (Admin); Julian Wood v The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Gravesham Borough Council [2015] EWCA Civ 195
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021
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- Planning permission granted8 July 2026337492139 The Broadway, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, AL4 9LW
- Notice upheld8 July 2026336000739 The Broadway, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LW
- Dismissed10 June 20266005367Beaumont Hall Lane, Redbourn Road, Redbourn, AL3 6RN
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.