®Planning appeal decision
The Cottage Foxes Lane, Welham Green, North Mymms, HATFIELD, AL9 7BA
the replacement of existing lawful outbuilding with residential dwelling, including basement extension and ancillary development
- Authority
- Welwyn Hatfield Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Allen K
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including its effect on the openness of the Green Belt, having regard to local and national policy
- whether the appeal site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, in respect of local and national policy
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, including the fallback so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify development
What decided it
The substantial harm to the Green Belt from inappropriateness and moderate loss of openness, combined with harm to character and appearance and unsuitability of location, was not clearly outweighed by the moderate benefit of contributing one dwelling to a shortfall in housing supply.
The moderate positive weight given to housing supply contribution and limited positive weight to other benefits did not clearly outweigh the substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt from inappropriateness, loss of openness, and harm to character and appearance, so very special circumstances did not exist.
Framework references: 11, 149, 150
Plan policies cited: SP1, SP3, SP9, SP10, SP11, SADM1, SADM3, SADM11, SADM12, SADM16, SADM34
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.