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Dismissed11 November 20213273644

2 Darby Drive, Rabley Heath, Welwyn, AL6 9TE

Planning appeal 3273644 at 2 Darby Drive, Rabley Heath, Welwyn, AL6 9TE (Welwyn Hatfield Council) was dismissed on 11 November 2021 by Inspector O'Doherty A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and the effect on the openness of the Green Belt.

described as, “Retrospective change of use of the property from single dwelling house to 4 No. dwellings, comprising 2 No. 2-bed houses, 1 No. 2-bed flat, 1 No. 1-bed flat, erection of single storey conservatory extension (27.8 sq. m); together with installation of new external staircase; introduction of 2 No. entrance doors (both in place of existing windows); introduction of 1 No. window (in rear elevation); enlargement of 1 No. window (in front elevation); and sub-division of single garden into 4 No. gardens

Authority
Welwyn Hatfield Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
O'Doherty A
Postcode
AL6 9TE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, and the effect on the openness of the Green Belt
  • whether the proposed development would provide a suitable location for the proposed change of use, having regard to the accessibility of services and facilities
  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
  • if the proposal would be inappropriate development, 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 it

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt which carries substantial weight and is not clearly outweighed by other considerations, and the site is not in a suitable location having regard to accessibility of services and facilities.

the benefits of housing choice and mix and more efficient use of brownfield land were outweighed by the substantial harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and the conflict with sustainable location policies

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SD1Policy H1Policy H2Policy GBSP1Policy GBSP2Policy D1Policy D2Policy RA10emerging Policy SADM 1emerging Policy SADM 34
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 12Paragraph 79Paragraph 119Paragraph 120Paragraph 130Paragraph 148Paragraph 149Paragraph 219
Judgments
Gladman Developments Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government [2020]

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Welwyn Hatfield

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2021

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  5. Planning permission granted6 March 20263354671
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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.