®Planning appeal decision
250 Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2DB
Planning appeal 3327329 at 250 Lower High Street, Watford, WD17 2DB (Watford Borough Council) was dismissed on 8 April 2024 by Inspector Hickey A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including nearby non-designated heritage assets.
demolish the existing vacant commercial building and erection of a six storey building comprised of 36 dwellings with associated development including amenity, refuse, cycle, car parking and plant space
- Authority
- Watford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Hickey A
- Postcode
- WD17 2DB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including nearby non-designated heritage assets
- the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers with particular regard to outlook and light at Crosfield Court and Local Board Road
- whether the proposed development would provide adequate living conditions for future occupiers with particular regard to sunlight, daylight and outdoor space
What decided it
The substantial harm to character and appearance and to living conditions of both neighbouring and future occupiers significantly and demonstrably outweighs the moderate benefits of housing delivery, even with the shortfall in housing land supply.
The moderate benefits of housing supply and economic/social benefits were substantially outweighed by the substantial harm to character and appearance, heritage setting, and living conditions of neighbouring and future occupiers; the tilted balance did not favour the proposal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CDA2.3Policy QD6.1Policy QD6.2Policy QD6.3Policy QD6.4Policy QD6.5Policy HE7.1Policy HE7.3Policy CC8.5Policy HO3.10Policy HO3.11
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.