Planning appeal decision
Land North East of Lower Road, Great Amwell, SG12 9SZ
Planning appeal 3331655 at Land North East of Lower Road, Great Amwell, SG12 9SZ (East Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 26 September 2024 by Inspector Hickey A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including the effect upon the openness of the Green Belt.
undertake landscaping and building works to a vacant plot of land to create equestrian facilities. The proposals will include a new
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Hickey A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including the effect upon the openness of the Green Belt
- the effect of the development upon the character and appearance of the area
- the effect of the proposed development on the Public Right of Way (PROW)
- whether any other matters weigh significantly either for or against the development
- if the development is inappropriate, whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development
What decided it
The substantial weight given to Green Belt harm from inappropriate development and loss of openness, combined with harm to character and appearance and failure to provide biodiversity net gain, was not clearly outweighed by the limited private benefits of the scheme, such that very special circumstances did not exist.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GBR1Policy DES2Policy DES3Policy DES4Policy NE2Policy NE3Policy CFLR6Policy CFLR3Policy CC1Policy CC2Policy WAT4
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 142Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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 East Hertfordshire District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Allowed28 October 20266008487The Ranch House, Amwell Hill, Great Amwell, Ware, SG12 9QZ
- Allowed14 October 2026601275023 Bishops Road, Tewin Wood, Tewin, AL6 0NP
- Dismissed28 September 20266006224Land Near Fanshawes Ware Park, Ware, SG12 0DX
- Dismissed25 September 20266006716Little Orchard, London Road, Spellbrook, Hertfordshire, CM23 4BA
- Notice upheld3 July 20263342403Brookfield Farm Barns, West End Road, Wormley West End, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7QN
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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