Planning appeal decision
57 New Road, Digswell, Welwyn, AL6 0AL
Planning appeal 3331093 at 57 New Road, Digswell, Welwyn, AL6 0AL (Welwyn Hatfield Council) was dismissed on 2 July 2024 by Inspector Szymanski D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area.
part demolition of existing property and erection of 5 no. 4 bedroom houses with associated internal access roads, parking and refuse/recycling collection
- Authority
- Welwyn Hatfield Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Szymanski D
- Postcode
- AL6 0AL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The proposal would be significantly harmful to and out of keeping with the character and appearance of the area, conflicting with development plan and Framework policies on design quality, and this harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of housing delivery when assessed against the Framework as a whole.
The moderate benefits of housing delivery (5 dwellings), economic benefits during and after construction, and moderate biodiversity net gain were outweighed by the significant harm to character and appearance and conflict with design policies, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP9Policy SADM11
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 131Paragraph 135Paragraph 139
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


More decisions in Welwyn Hatfield
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Allowed6 October 202660125776 Chelveston, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 2PW
- Dismissed5 October 202660098922A Whitehill, Welwyn, AL6 9AF
- Dismissed9 September 20266010292Rose Cottage, Kentish Lane, Hatfield, AL9 6JP
- Allowed4 September 202660125166 Meadow Green, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6SS
- Dismissed20 August 2026600674430 Honeysuckle Gardens, Hatfield, AL10 8PJ
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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