®Planning appeal decision
Land at Oakleigh Farm Industrial Estate, Codicote Road, Welwyn, AL6 9TY
demolition of all existing buildings and structures. Chang e of use of western section to residential, comprising the erection of seven new detached dwellings with associated detached garages, parking and amenity areas. Change of use of eastern section to paddock. Upgrade existing access road
- Authority
- North Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Osgathorp C
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether a planning obligation for financial contributions towards local infrastructure and services is necessary to make the proposal acceptable in planning terms
What decided it
The proposal's compliance with the NPPF paragraph 149(g) exception for redevelopment of previously developed land in the Green Belt, combined with the significant housing land supply shortfall and the visual benefits of removing unsightly open storage, justified allowing the appeal.
The benefits of housing delivery (7 dwellings) and environmental improvements (removal of unsightly open storage, new landscaping) on previously developed land outweighed any concerns, particularly given the Council's inability to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply.
Framework references: 147, 149, 60, 69, 174, 12
Plan policies cited: Policy 2 of the North Hertfordshire District Local Plan 1996, Policy 57 of the District Plan, Policy 51 of the emerging Local Plan, Policy SP7 of the emerging Local Plan, Policy SP1 of the emerging Local Plan, Policy D1 of the emerging Local Plan
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.