Planning appeal decision
86 Oaklands Lane, Smallford, St. Albans, AL4 0HS
Planning appeal 3325151 at 86 Oaklands Lane, Smallford, St. Albans, AL4 0HS (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 7 March 2024 by Inspector Allen K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to local and national policy.
the demolition of existing rear dormer and rebuild of dormer in improved location
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Allen K
- Postcode
- AL4 0HS
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, having regard to local and national policy
- the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- whether any 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 extension would constitute disproportionate additions to the original building and result in harmful loss of openness to the Green Belt, with no identified benefits to clearly outweigh this harm and establish very special circumstances.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 1Policy 13Policy 69Policy 72
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154
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 2024
- 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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