Pirton Water Tower, Priors Hill, Pirton, Hertfordshire, SG5 3QH

Planning appeal 3301143 at Pirton Water Tower, Priors Hill, Pirton, Hertfordshire, SG5 3QH (North Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 24 March 2023 by Inspector Jackson P, 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, with particular reference to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

demolition of water tower and erection of dwelling

Authority: North Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Jackson P
Postcode: SG5 3QH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular reference to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

What decided it

The proposed dwelling would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the AONB through insensitive design and prominent siting, which outweighs the limited benefit of providing a single dwelling on a brownfield site in an area where the local planning authority can now demonstrate a 5-year housing supply.

The limited weight attributable to a single dwelling on a brownfield site in the context of a demonstrated 5-year housing supply was outweighed by the significant harm to the character and appearance of the AONB.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: CGB1NE3
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 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.

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The decision letter

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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023

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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.