pirton water tower, priors hill , pirton, hertfordshire, SG5 3QH

one detached dwelling and garage following demolition of existing water tower (all matters reserved)

Authority: North Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Astley-Serougi B

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area, with reference to the Chilterns National Landscape including the effect of the proposed demolition of the non-designated heritage asset known as Pirton Water Tower
whether the appeal site is in a sustainable location for the proposed development having regard to local policy
the effect of the proposed development on the biodiversity of the appeal site

What decided it

The proposed development would harm the character and appearance of the Chilterns National Landscape and would not meet any of the exceptions to Policy CGB1 for development in the rural area beyond the Green Belt.

Framework references: 189

Plan policies cited: Policy CGB1, Policy NE3, Policy NE4, Policy HE3, Policy LTP4

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.