®Planning appeal decision
Bell Lane, London Colney, St Albans, AL2 1BZ
a pitch cover/inflatable dome
- Authority
- Hertsmere Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Brooker M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and its purposes
- whether the proposal would preserve the setting of the nearby grade II* listed building Salisbury Hall
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances (VSC) required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The significant public benefits of extensive, free community use of the Dome (including by disabled, minority and health-condition groups), together with biodiversity and Academy benefits, clearly outweighed the Green Belt, heritage and landscape harm, establishing very special circumstances.
the totality of other considerations (community use, biodiversity enhancements and the Academy) clearly outweighed the combined Green Belt inappropriateness/openness harm, the less than substantial heritage harm and the limited landscape harm, so very special circumstances were found to exist
Framework references: 142, 143, 144, 152, 205, 206, 207, 208, 56
Plan policies cited: SP1, CS13, SADM26, CS14, Policy 29, ENV 11, ENV 12
Judgments cited: Turner v SSCLG & East Dorset Council [2016] EWCA Civ 466
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.