Land South of Holwell Road, Holwell, Herts , SG5 3SG

Planning appeal 3276596 at Land South of Holwell Road, Holwell, Herts , SG5 3SG (North Hertfordshire District Council) was allowed on 30 December 2021 by Inspector Griffiths S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development proposed.

residential development of land for affordable housing (five dwellings)

Authority: North Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Griffiths S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development proposed

What decided it

The significant benefits of delivering much-needed affordable housing in an area with proven and unmet need outweighed the moderate harm to character and appearance, particularly under the tilted balance engaged by the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

The moderate harm to character and appearance from loss of open countryside was outweighed by the significant benefits of delivering much-needed affordable housing in a location with proven local need, when assessed against the Framework as a whole under the tilted balance.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy 6 (Rural Areas Beyond the Green Belt)Policy 29 (Rural Housing Needs)Policy CGB1 (Rural Areas Beyond the Green Belt)Policy SP2 (Settlement Hierarchy)Policy CGB2 (Exception sites in rural areas)Policy HS2Policy NE1 (Landscape)
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

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

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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.