®Planning appeal decision
Flaunden Stables, Birch Lane, Flaunden, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0PT
Planning appeal 3296310 at Flaunden Stables, Birch Lane, Flaunden, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0PT (Dacorum Borough Council) was dismissed on 12 April 2023 by Inspector Webb B, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the condition in dispute is necessary, having particular regard to (a) the economy, (b) the living conditions of future occupants, (c) the character and appearance of the area, and (d) social infrastructure.
conversion of existing agricultural barn to form a 4 bed detached dwelling; conversion of existing agricultural barn to form a 2 bed detached dwelling with manager's office; single storey rear extension to coach house; and refurbishment and improvement of existing stables, without complying with a condition attached to planning permission Ref 4/03481/15/MFA, dated 5 July 2016
- Authority
- Dacorum Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Webb B
- Postcode
- HP3 0PW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the condition in dispute is necessary, having particular regard to (a) the economy, (b) the living conditions of future occupants, (c) the character and appearance of the area, and (d) social infrastructure
- whether, if the obligations continue to serve a useful purpose, they would serve that purpose equally well if modified
What decided it
The tied accommodation and manager's office remained necessary to support the ongoing equestrian use and its economic potential, and the appellant had not demonstrated any genuine need for the tie to be removed or the obligations modified.
the necessity of the tie for supporting the rural economy and equestrian use outweighed the limited and largely neutral considerations relating to living conditions, character and appearance, and social infrastructure, leading to the conclusion that Condition 9 remained necessary and the obligations should continue unmodified
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS5Policy CS23Policy CS5(d)(i)Policy CS5(d)(ii)
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 150
- Judgments
- Hillside Parks Ltd v Snowdonia National Park Authority [2022]
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
More decisions in Dacorum
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
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- Planning permission granted15 April 20263361818Land to the Rear of 22 Brook Street, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 5EF
- Dismissed6 February 2026600227825A Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 2AE
- Notice varied and upheld8 December 20253345662Nash House, Dickinson Square, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9GT
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.