Planning appeal decision
Lower Stud Equestrian Centre, Drop Lane, Bricket Wood, St. Albans, AL2 3TX
Planning appeal 3301783 at Lower Stud Equestrian Centre, Drop Lane, Bricket Wood, St. Albans, AL2 3TX (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 22 December 2022 by Inspector Marigold O, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: 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.
proposed rebuilding of partially demolished building to provide a hay barn
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- agricultural · Minor general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Marigold O
- Postcode
- AL2 3TX
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 proposal would constitute inappropriate development in the Green Belt by virtue of being a disproportionate addition that would reduce openness, and the business benefits claimed did not amount to very special circumstances sufficient to justify it.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Saved Policy 1 of the City and District of St Albans District Local Plan ReviewPolicy 13 of the Local Plan Review
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 147Paragraph 149Paragraph 219
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


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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2022
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- Notice upheld8 July 2026336000739 The Broadway, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LW
- Dismissed10 June 20266005367Beaumont Hall Lane, Redbourn Road, Redbourn, AL3 6RN
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.
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