®Planning appeal decision
Land at Oakleigh Farm Industrial Estate, Codicote Road, Welwyn, AL6 9TY
Planning appeal 3269379 at Land at Oakleigh Farm Industrial Estate, Codicote Road, Welwyn, AL6 9TY (North Hertfordshire District Council) was allowed on 29 September 2021 by Inspector Osgathorp C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: 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.
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
- Postcode
- AL6 9TY
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.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 2 of the North Hertfordshire District Local Plan 1996Policy 57 of the District PlanPolicy 51 of the emerging Local PlanPolicy SP7 of the emerging Local PlanPolicy SP1 of the emerging Local PlanPolicy D1 of the emerging Local Plan
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 147Paragraph 149Paragraph 60Paragraph 69Paragraph 174Paragraph 12
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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- Dismissed7 May 20263375383Land At Chruch Wood, Three Houses Lane, Codicote, Hertfordshire, SG4 8
- Allowed4 March 20266000934Pulmer Water Caravan Site, St Albans Road, Codicote, Hertfordshire, SG4 8SP
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.