®Planning appeal decision
16 Townsend Lane, Harpenden, AL5 2QE
Planning appeal 3296314 at 16 Townsend Lane, Harpenden, AL5 2QE (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 29 September 2022 by Inspector Martinson P, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Harpenden Conservation Area.
Replacement of 3 bedroom house with new 5 bedroom house and associated landscaping
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Martinson P
- Postcode
- AL5 2QE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Harpenden Conservation Area
What decided it
The proposal would result in less than substantial harm to the character and appearance of the Harpenden Conservation Area, a designated heritage asset, which provides a clear reason for refusal under paragraph 11(d) of the NPPF.
The minor public benefits of renewable energy and improved thermal efficiency for a single property would not outweigh the adverse effect on the significance of the conservation area; the tilted balance was not engaged because heritage asset protection provides a clear reason for refusal
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 69Policy 70Policy 85Policy ESD1Policy ESD2Policy H2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 199Paragraph 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.
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
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- Invalid17 September 2026600824718 Manland Way, Harpenden, AL5 4QS
- Planning permission granted15 September 20263311314Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY
- Notice upheld15 September 20263311308Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY
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.