Wellstones Car Park, Watford , Hertfordshire , WD17 2AF

the redevelopment of the existing car park and the construction of a part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8 storey building comprising 89 self contained flats (Class C) and a flexible non-residential unit at ground floor, associated roof top plant, private and communal amenity space, landscaping, refuse storage, cycle and car parking

Authority: Watford Borough Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: residential · Other Major Developments
Inspector: Parsons J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effects of the proposal on (a) the settings of a Grade I listed building, known as Holy Rood Church, and Grade II listed buildings, known as Holy Rood House (Presbytery), Former Holy Rood Roman Catholic School and Former Convent of Saint Vincent, and (b) the living conditions of the occupiers of existing flats at The Clock House, having regard to light and outlook.

What decided it

The significant public benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing and regeneration outweighed the less than substantial heritage harm and no significant harm to neighbours' living conditions was found.

the significant public benefits (housing delivery, affordable and accessible housing, brownfield regeneration, design quality, and modest carbon/economic benefits) outweighed the less than substantial harm to the settings of the listed buildings

Framework references: 129, 60, 81, 208, 11, 56, 57

Plan policies cited: Policy H03.3, Policy ST11.1, Policy SS1.1, Policy H03.10, Policy CC8.3, Policy HE7.1, Policy HE7.2, Policy CC8.5

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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