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Dismissed24 January 20243309195

Ashtree Court, Granville Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 5UE

Planning appeal 3309195 at Ashtree Court, Granville Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 5UE (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 24 January 2024 by Inspector Law T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the St Albans Conservation Area.

upwards extension of Block A – E Ashtree Court, St Albans to provide 14 flats

Authority
St Albans City Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Law T
Postcode
AL1 5UE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the St Albans Conservation Area
  • The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of nearby occupiers
  • Whether the proposed development makes adequate provision for facilities through developer contributions

What decided it

The harm to the character and appearance of the St Albans Conservation Area caused by the scale and massing of the proposed extension was not outweighed by the public benefits, and this harm disengaged the tilted balance and provided a clear reason for refusal.

The significant public benefits of 14 dwellings and infrastructure contributions were outweighed by the less than substantial but material harm to the conservation area, to which great weight must be given under the Framework and the Act.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 69Policy 70Policy 72Policy 85
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 199Paragraph 208Paragraph 205Paragraph 135

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in St Albans City Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024

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  2. Dismissed22 September 20266013802
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  3. Invalid17 September 20266008247
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  4. Planning permission granted15 September 20263311314
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  5. Notice upheld15 September 20263311308
    Land 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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.