®Planning appeal decision
133A London Road, St. Albans, AL1 1TA
Planning appeal 3288939 at 133A London Road, St. Albans, AL1 1TA (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 7 October 2022 by Inspector Douglas L, 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 construction of nine apartments and two, three bedroom semi-detached houses with bike and bin stores following demolition of existing buildings, new vehicular access and associated parking and landscaping
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Douglas L
- Postcode
- AL1 1TA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupants of the proposed apartments, with regard to the outlook from apartments 1, 4 and 6, and the provision of amenity space
What decided it
The substantial harm to living conditions for future occupants of Apartments 4 and 6 through extremely poor outlook, combined with modest harm to character and appearance, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the housing and economic benefits, even in the context of a shortfall in housing land supply.
The significant housing and economic benefits of providing 10 new dwellings in a sustainable location with a 2.4 year housing land supply were outweighed by the substantial harm to living conditions of future occupants and modest harm to character and appearance, such that the proposal did not constitute sustainable development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Saved Policy 69 of the St Albans District Local Plan Review (1994)Saved Policy 70 of the St Albans District Local Plan Review (1994)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 38Paragraph 60Paragraph 81Paragraph 124Paragraph 125Paragraph 130
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.