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Notice upheld23 February 20263341837

162-164 High St, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1BA

Planning appeal 3341837 at 162-164 High St, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1BA (Three Rivers District Council) was dismissed on 23 February 2026 by Inspector Harwood A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether at the date the notice was issued, enforcement action could be taken with respect to the development enforced against (ground d).

Without planning permission the material change of use of the Land from its use as 2 dwellinghouses (Nos. 162 and 164 High Street), to its use as a single dwellinghouse incorporating internal structural and other alterations, changes to external fenestration and the removal of a boundary enclosure in rear garden land

Authority
Three Rivers District Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Change of use
Inspector
Harwood A
Postcode
WD3 1BA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether at the date the notice was issued, enforcement action could be taken with respect to the development enforced against (ground d)
  • the effect of the development on the supply of housing within Rickmansworth and the district as a whole
  • the planning balance of adverse impacts and any benefits of the proposed development

What decided it

The loss of one dwelling in a location with insufficient housing land supply (1.9 years) and poor housing delivery, contrary to development plan policies requiring housing provision, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits of improved accessibility and accommodation standards.

The adverse impacts of granting permission (loss of housing supply in a sustainable location, inefficient use of land, conflict with development plan policies) significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits (improved accessibility, higher standard of accommodation, Building Regulations compliance), assessed against the Framework taken as a whole.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Core Strategy Policy PSP1Core Strategy Policy CP2Site Allocations Local Development Document Policy SA1
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Three Rivers

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Notice varied and upheld11 June 20263352724
    Black Horse Pub, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5EG
  2. Notice upheld23 February 20263341838
    162-164 High St, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1BA
  3. Notice varied and upheld23 October 20253333635
    37 Creasy Close, Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire, WD5 0HS
  4. Quashed On Legal Grounds17 July 20253349464
    Ravenswood Farm Church Lane, Sarratt, Rickmansworth, WD3 6HJ
  5. Notice upheld3 June 20253327298
    7A Wolsey Road, Northwood, HA6 2HN

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.