®Planning appeal decision
30 - 34 London Road, SAWBRIDGEWORTH, CM21 9JS
roof extension to form five new one bedroom flats including new external rear staircase
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Pinto A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Sawbridgeworth Conservation Area and whether any harm to the significance of the CA is outbalanced by any public benefits
- the effects of the proposed development on the living conditions of future occupiers of the development and the existing and future occupiers of nearby properties, particularly with regard to light, outlook and privacy
- the effects of the proposal on the Sawbridgeworth Air Quality Management Area
What decided it
The less than substantial harm to the conservation area from the increased height and prominence of the building, combined with the absence of sufficient public benefits to outweigh this harm and the failure to assess impacts on neighbouring living conditions and air quality, rendered the proposal unacceptable.
The modest public benefits of increased housing stock and local economic benefit were substantially outweighed by the relatively significant harm to the conservation area as a designated heritage asset.
Framework references: 192, 194
Plan policies cited: Policy DES4, Policy HA4, Policy EQ4
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.