Land at Crane Mead, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9FF

a new three storey residential block comprising one 2 bed four person dwelling and two 1 bed two person dwellings per floor with a total of 9 apartments. The scheme will also include cycle and bin storage, creation of private balcony space as well as shared amenity space from the new block to the river lea, landscaping hard and soft planting, car parking including visitor parking

Authority: East Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Smith D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including a non-designated heritage asset (Weir Keepers Cottage)
The effect on land designated as Local Green Space
Whether the proposed development would be suitably located having regard to the risk of flooding
The effect on biodiversity

What decided it

The proposal fails to accord with the development plan as a whole due to harm to character and appearance, loss of Local Green Space function, absence of a sequential flood risk test, and failure to demonstrate biodiversity net gain, and the housing supply position does not provide a compelling reason to set these objections aside.

The housing supply benefits and location within the urban area of Ware were outweighed by significant objections regarding adverse effects on character and appearance, harm to Local Green Space, unsuitability regarding flood risk, and failure to demonstrate biodiversity enhancements.

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: Policy DES4, Policy W2, Policy W3, Policy HA2, Policy W13, Policy CFLR2, Policy WAT1, Policy NE2, Policy W12, Policy DPS2, Policy WARE1

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.