®Planning appeal decision
Land Between 84-108 Ragged Hall Lane, Chiswell Green, AL2 3NN
Planning appeal 3345004 at Land Between 84-108 Ragged Hall Lane, Chiswell Green, AL2 3NN (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 20 January 2025 by Inspector Bowden N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including effects on openness.
an outline planning application (all matters reserved other than access) for 7 serviced plots for self-build and custom housebuilding
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Bowden N
- Postcode
- AL2 3NN
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies, including effects on openness
- 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 required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The significant harm to the openness of the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness was not clearly outweighed by the material considerations advanced, including the shortage of self-build and custom housebuilding plots and housing land supply shortfall.
The persistent shortage of housing land, lack of self-build and custom housebuilding plots, absence of a current development plan, and significant proportion of Green Belt land in the District, together with social, economic and environmental benefits, did not clearly outweigh the significant harm to the openness of the Green Belt and the inappropriateness of the development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 1 of the St Albans City and District Plan 1994Policy 2 of the St Albans City and District Plan 1994Policy 143A of the St Albans City and District Plan 1994
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 70Paragraph 73Paragraph 152Paragraph 153Paragraph 154Paragraph 155
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
More decisions in St Albans City Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed10 July 20266008445202 Radlett Road, Frogmore, St Albans, AL2 2EN
- Planning permission granted8 July 2026337492139 The Broadway, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, AL4 9LW
- Notice upheld8 July 2026336000739 The Broadway, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LW
- Dismissed10 June 20266005367Beaumont Hall Lane, Redbourn Road, Redbourn, AL3 6RN
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.