Hanrox Meadows, Blunts Lane , St Albans , Hertfordshire , AL2 3NJ

construction of detached storage and welfare building for anglers using the lake for fishing and associated landscaping works

Authority: St Albans City Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Other minor developments
Inspector: Marigold O

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
If the proposal is inappropriate, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The building's large size and scale would not preserve the openness of the Green Belt, making it inappropriate development, and the appellant failed to demonstrate very special circumstances to justify it.

Framework references: 147, 149, 150, 219, 148

Plan policies cited: St Stephens Neighbourhood Plan Policy S1, City and District of St Albans District Local Plan Review saved Policy 1

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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