®Planning appeal decision
48 The Runway, Hatfield, Hertfordshire , AL10 9GL
Planning appeal 3325924 at 48 The Runway, Hatfield, Hertfordshire , AL10 9GL (Welwyn Hatfield Council) was allowed on 26 March 2025 by Inspector Shields T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Appeal A: whether the Council's decision to refuse the application for a certificate of lawful use or development was well founded, turning on whether the proposed change of use from C3(a) to C2 would constitute a material change of use.
for the change of use of use of a dwelling C3(a) to a children's home for a maximum of four children, with three carers, two carers of whom sleep overnight, working on a rota basis (C2)
- Authority
- Welwyn Hatfield Council
- Appeal type
- ldc · Lawful Development Certificate
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- community-institutional · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Shields T
- Postcode
- AL10 9GL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Appeal A: whether the Council's decision to refuse the application for a certificate of lawful use or development was well founded, turning on whether the proposed change of use from C3(a) to C2 would constitute a material change of use
- Appeal B: whether the site is a suitable location for a children's home with particular regard to the effect on character and appearance, highway safety, and living conditions of neighbouring occupiers in terms of noise and disturbance
What decided it
The proposed use would not result in a definable change in the character of the property compared to current residential use and would not constitute a material change of use, with off-site impacts controlled through OFSTED regulation and planning conditions.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- LP Policies SADM9LP Policy SP1LP Policy SP7LP Policy SP9LP Policy SADM11LP Policy SADM18LP Policy SADM2LP Policy SADM12
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 Welwyn Hatfield
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Allowed1 April 2026600371117 Thrush Avenue, Hatfield, AL10 8QU
- Allowed11 August 202533637985 Lady Grove, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4DS
- Dismissed14 July 20253361954Wendover Lodge, Church Street, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 9LR
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.