®Planning appeal decision
8 High Road, Essendon, Hatfield, AL9 6HW
Planning appeal 3347087 at 8 High Road, Essendon, Hatfield, AL9 6HW (Welwyn Hatfield Council) was dismissed on 28 January 2025 by Inspector Winnard K, 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.
a ground floor rear extension, installation of new dormer window to rear elevation, replacement of existing window reveal detailing, removal of existing front door and porch and installation of new window, reinstatement of original front door, replacement of timber windows to match original, blocking up existing window on side elevation at first floor level, alterations to window sizes on rear elevation at first floor level, installation of Velux rooflight and internal alterations
- Authority
- Welwyn Hatfield Council
- Appeal type
- householder · Householder (HAS)
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Householder developments
- Inspector
- Winnard K
- Postcode
- AL9 6HW
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
- The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt and on the character and appearance of the host dwelling and area, having regard to its conservation area status
- Whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be outweighed by other considerations to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal
What decided it
The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt with substantial harm that is not outweighed by other considerations, and it would fail to preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area, resulting in less than substantial heritage harm that cannot be justified by public benefits.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SADM34Policy SP9Policy SADM15
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 135Paragraph 203Paragraph 215
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Welwyn Hatfield
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed5 October 202660098922A Whitehill, Welwyn, AL6 9AF
- Dismissed9 September 20266010292Rose Cottage, Kentish Lane, Hatfield, AL9 6JP
- Dismissed28 May 2026600320349 The Ridgeway, Cuffley, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 4BD
- Dismissed27 May 20266003536East Lodge, Judge's Hill, Northaw, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 4NL
- Planning permission granted6 March 2026335467120 Ayot Green, Ayot St. Peter, Welwyn, AL6 9AB
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.