50 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1TX

redevelopment of the site to provide a mixed use scheme including the provision of 247 build to rent residential units (Class C3) and 4,798 sq m Class E floorspace in buildings ranging from 5 to 24 storeys with associated cycle parking, car parking, landscaping and amenity

Authority: Watford Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Inquiry
Development: residential · Other Major Developments
Inspector: Woodwards O

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not the proposal would provide an acceptable level and type of employment floorspace
the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
whether or not the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Estcourt Conservation Area
whether or not the proposal would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers

What decided it

The significant benefits of housing delivery (including affordable housing) and employment generation outweighed the limited identified harms, such that the proposal accorded with the development plan as a whole.

the significant benefits of market and affordable housing, employment generation, accessibility, energy efficiency, drainage betterment and biodiversity net gain outweighed the limited harms from loss of office floorspace, non-outstanding tall building design and absence of family-sized housing, so the proposal accorded with the development plan as a whole

Framework references: 11, 81, 83, 130, 197

Plan policies cited: Strategic Policy CDA2.1, Policy EM4.1, Policy EM4.3, Policy QD6.1, Policy QD6.2, Policy QD6.3, Policy QD6.4, Policy QD6.5, Policy HE7.1, Policy HE7.2, Policy HO3.2, Policy HO3.10, Policy HO3.11, Strategic Policy CC8.1, Policy CC8.2, Policy CC8.3, Policy HC12.2

Judgments cited: [2004] 2 P. & C.R. 22

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.