®Planning appeal decision
Land Rear of 49-53 High Street, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3QH
Planning appeal 3342617 at Land Rear of 49-53 High Street, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 3QH (Dacorum Borough Council) was allowed on 23 October 2024 by Inspector Wallace J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether an Appropriate Assessment pursuant to the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 is necessary in order to agree the conditions attached to the planning permission and, if it is necessary, the effect of the proposal on the Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation with particular regard to recreational disturbance.
Details as required by conditions 6 (Phase One Report) and 11 (Construction Management Plan) attached to planning permission 20/02653/ROC (Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 4/03109/17/MFA - Proposed demolition of all existing buildings, improvements to existing access, construction of four 3- bed and six 2-bed cottages with associated car parking and access road with waste and cycle storage)
- Authority
- Dacorum Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Wallace J
- Postcode
- HP4 3QH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether an Appropriate Assessment pursuant to the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 is necessary in order to agree the conditions attached to the planning permission and, if it is necessary, the effect of the proposal on the Chiltern Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation with particular regard to recreational disturbance
- Whether the details of the surface water drainage scheme would be acceptable (Appeal B only)
What decided it
The absence of adequate mitigation measures (SAMMS and SANG) to address the likely significant adverse effect on the integrity of the Chiltern Beechwoods SAC from recreational disturbance caused by the residential development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS26Policy CS31Policy CS32
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 173Paragraph 15
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
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
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- Allowed21 October 20253365474Land South of Nettleden Road and North of Potten End Hill, Great Gaddesden, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 3BN
- Allowed30 September 20253366214Land East of Green Lane, Hemel Hempstead, AL3 7AP
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.