®Planning appeal decision
Land South of Shenley Hill, Radlett, WD7 7BD
the erection of up to 195 new homes (45% affordable), safeguarded land for the expansion of Newberries Primary School and provision of a new medical centre, along with associated access. Outline application to include the matter of Access (with the following matters reserved: Appearance, Landscaping, Layout and Scale)
- Authority
- Hertsmere Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Fagan N
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, specifically on the landscape
- Whether any harm to the Green Belt, any harm to the landscape and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances (VSCs) necessary to justify the proposed development
What decided it
The cumulative benefits of the scheme did not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt (by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness) and the substantial adverse landscape effects, so very special circumstances were not established.
The substantial weight given to housing supply, very substantial weight to affordable housing, and lesser weight to other benefits did not clearly outweigh the substantial Green Belt harm and substantial adverse landscape harm, so the balance tipped against allowing the appeal.
Framework references: 11, 12, 60, 85, 115, 142, 143, 145, 152, 153, 154, 155, 180
Plan policies cited: Policy SP1, Policy SP2, Policy CS2, Policy CS13, Policy CS16, Policy SADM26(iv), Policy HD3 (RNDP), Policy RV2 (RNDP)
Judgments cited: R oao Luton Borough Council v Central Bedfordshire Council & Houghton Regis Development Consortium and Others [2015] EWCA Civ 537; Compton Parish Council and Others v Guildford Borough Council and Others [2019] 3242 (Admin)
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.