Planning appeal decision
Bluebell Cottage, B1368 North Junc With Hare Street Road to Biggin Hill, Hare Street, Hertfordshire, SG9 0DY
Planning appeal 3339591 at Bluebell Cottage, B1368 North Junc With Hare Street Road to Biggin Hill, Hare Street, Hertfordshire, SG9 0DY (East Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 18 February 2025 by Inspector Buchanan R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal is a suitable form of development on the site.
demolition of existing outbuildings and erection of 4no. dwellings with associated garages, landscaping and vehicular access as well as new detached double garage to Bluebell Cottage
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Buchanan R
- Postcode
- SG9 0DY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal is a suitable form of development on the site
- if the proposal would be appropriate to the character, appearance and setting of the surrounding area
What decided it
The proposal fails to constitute suitable form of development (infilling or previously developed land redevelopment) under the applicable development plan policies and would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the semi-rural area, which substantially outweighs the moderate benefit of housing delivery despite the housing land supply shortfall.
The housing land supply shortfall (4.20-4.49 years) engaged the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d), but the significant harm to character, appearance and rural setting substantially and demonstrably outweighs the moderate benefit of delivering two or four dwellings, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- EHDP Policy GBR2EHDP Policy GBR2(e)EHDP Policy GBR2(h)EHDP Policy DES4EHDP Policy VILL2BCNP Policy HD1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 14Paragraph 17
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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- Dismissed15 October 20266005090Hare Street House, Hare Street Buntinford, SG9 0DY
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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