®Planning appeal decision
Land to the Rear of 76 and 78 Church Lane, Sarratt, WD3 6HL
Planning appeal 3300083 at Land to the Rear of 76 and 78 Church Lane, Sarratt, WD3 6HL (Three Rivers District Council) was allowed on 19 July 2023 by Inspector Woodwards O, 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, including whether or not the proposal would conserve or enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the AONB).
the development of up to 20 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) with new access to Church Lane and pedestrian link to existing public footpath
- Authority
- Three Rivers District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Woodwards O
- Postcode
- WD3 6HL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including whether or not the proposal would conserve or enhance the landscape and scenic beauty of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (the AONB)
- whether or not the proposal makes adequate provision for affordable housing
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and, if so, whether or not the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify it
What decided it
The substantial benefits of providing 20 affordable homes in an area with an identified pressing need for affordable housing and where the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply outweighed the limited harm to character, appearance and the AONB.
The benefits of the proposed affordable housing, economic benefits and biodiversity net gain substantially outweighed the limited harm to character and appearance, limited harm to the landscape and scenic beauty of the AONB, and loss of existing biodiversity on the appeal site, with the proposal passing the tilted balance test.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP1Policy CP4Policy CP11Policy CP12Policy DM1Policy DM2Policy DM7Appendix 2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 57Paragraph 149Paragraph 176
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 Three Rivers
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Allowed12 October 20266002930Land to the Rear of, 76 and 78 Church Lane, Sarratt, WD3 6HL
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- Dismissed2 September 20253351933Riverside, Old Mill Road, Hunton Bridge, WD4 8QT
- Allowed11 April 20253350225Belair Toms Lane, Kings Langley, WD4 8NH
- Allowed11 February 20253346061Parcel Of Land North Of Mansion House Farm, Bedmond Road, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, WD5 0QE
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.