Planning appeal decision
Stockingwood House, Pipers Lane, Harpenden, AL5 1AQ
Planning appeal 3322966 at Stockingwood House, Pipers Lane, Harpenden, AL5 1AQ (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 15 December 2023 by Inspector Wilson D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
two storey extension above the existing single storey element to the west end of the property and roof extensions
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Wilson D
- Postcode
- AL5 1AQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
- whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal results in disproportionate additions to the original building (96% increase in floor space) and causes a small but significant loss of Green Belt openness, with no very special circumstances to justify the harm.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 1Policy 13Policy 69Policy 72Wheathampstead Neighbourhood Plan Policy W8Wheathampstead Neighbourhood Plan Policy W9Wheathampstead Neighbourhood Plan Policy W14
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 30Paragraph 137Paragraph 147Paragraph 149
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 appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


More decisions in St Albans City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Planning permission granted15 September 20263311314Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY
- Dismissed10 July 20266008445202 Radlett Road, Frogmore, St Albans, AL2 2EN
- Planning permission granted8 July 2026337492139 The Broadway, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, AL4 9LW
- Notice upheld8 July 2026336000739 The Broadway, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LW
- Dismissed10 June 20266005367Beaumont Hall Lane, Redbourn Road, Redbourn, AL3 6RN
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.
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