®Planning appeal decision
1 Whempstead Road, Benington, Stevenage, SG2 7BX
Planning appeal 3288595 at 1 Whempstead Road, Benington, Stevenage, SG2 7BX (East Hertfordshire District Council) was allowed on 27 January 2023 by Inspector Woodward M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether or not the proposal would be in an appropriate location for housing, having particular regard to the character and appearance of the area, and the accessibility of services and facilities.
the demolition and removal of the existing house, and its replacement with a pair of semi-detached houses (1no three bedroom, and 1no four bedroom), with car parking and detached incidental home office at the rear for both houses, air source heat pumps enclosures, recycling and refuse bins enclosure, and secure cycle storage facilities
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Woodward M
- Postcode
- SG2 7BX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether or not the proposal would be in an appropriate location for housing, having particular regard to the character and appearance of the area, and the accessibility of services and facilities
What decided it
The proposal constitutes a replacement building supported by Policy GBR2 of the District Plan, and the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply means the limited harm from the locational shortcomings does not outweigh the benefits of providing one net additional dwelling.
The proposal's accordance with Policy GBR2 and limited conflict with Policies TRA1 and DPS2, combined with the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, meant the limited adverse impacts did not clearly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing provision, leading to the appeal being allowed.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GBR2Policy HOU2Policy DES3Policy DES4Policy TRA1Policy DPS2Policy EQ4
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 79Paragraph 85Paragraph 56Paragraph 54
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.