Stanstead Lodge, Stanstead Road, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8LD

the installation of 3 x rows of freestanding solar panels along with associated cable connection to dwelling

Authority: East Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: utilities-energy · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Jones H

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the development upon the openness of the Metropolitan Green Belt
Whether the harm to the Metropolitan Green Belt, 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 development proposed

What decided it

The substantial harm caused by inappropriate development and loss of openness to the Metropolitan Green Belt was not clearly outweighed by the renewable energy and energy efficiency benefits, such that very special circumstances do not exist to justify the proposal.

Framework references: 153

Plan policies cited: Policy GBR1

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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