®Planning appeal decision
Lilas Wood, Wick Lane, Hastoe, Tring, Herts, HP23 6LU
a material change of use of woodland and agricultural land to a wedding venue, including all chattels, structures, trackway and other materials associated with such use between May to September for 15 events per annum (part retrospective)
- Authority
- Dacorum Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Butcher H
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, and the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- The effect of the proposal on ancient semi-natural woodland
- The effect of the proposal on the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The substantial harm to the Green Belt and ancient woodland, and the resulting harm to the Chilterns AONB, was not clearly outweighed by the other considerations put forward, so very special circumstances were not demonstrated.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt, ancient woodland, and the Chilterns AONB was not clearly outweighed by the fallback position, economic benefits, and other modest benefits, so the balance tipped against the proposal.
Framework references: 149, 150, 180
Plan policies cited: Policy CS5, Policy CS24, Policy CS26
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.