Planning appeal decision
8 Cumberland Close, Pimlico, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8SL
Planning appeal 3284974 at 8 Cumberland Close, Pimlico, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8SL (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 12 May 2022 by Inspector Blackwell J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
the conversion of existing dwelling into two dwellings, new porch canopy and alterations to openings
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Blackwell J
- Postcode
- HP3 8SL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The harm to the character and appearance of the area caused by the sub-division, mismatch in scale, vehicle-dominated frontage, and reduced rear garden significantly and demonstrably outweighs the modest housing benefit, even accounting for the Council's lack of five-year housing land supply.
The adverse impacts of the development in terms of harm to character and appearance significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of a single additional dwelling when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole; the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 69Policy 70
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 130Paragraph 219
- Judgments
- Mansell v Tonbridge and Malling BC & Others [2017] EWCA Civ 1314
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in St Albans City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2022
- Planning permission granted15 September 20263311314Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY
- Dismissed10 July 20266008445202 Radlett Road, Frogmore, St Albans, AL2 2EN
- Planning permission granted8 July 2026337492139 The Broadway, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, AL4 9LW
- Notice upheld8 July 2026336000739 The Broadway, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LW
- Dismissed10 June 20266005367Beaumont Hall Lane, Redbourn Road, Redbourn, AL3 6RN
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.
®