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Allowed26 March 20253348564

Land Adjacent The Cats Whiskers, 1 Oaklands Lane, Smallford, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0HR

Planning appeal 3348564 at Land Adjacent The Cats Whiskers, 1 Oaklands Lane, Smallford, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL4 0HR (St Albans City Council) was allowed on 26 March 2025 by Inspector Pearce J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of development plan policy and the Framework.

the erection of one detached Self-Build/ Custom-Build bungalow following the demolition of all existing structures and hardstanding (all matters reserved except access, layout and scale)

Authority
St Albans City Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Pearce J
Postcode
AL4 0HR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt for the purposes of development plan policy and the Framework
  • the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
  • if it is inappropriate, whether the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The proposal meets all criteria in Paragraph 155 of the Framework for development on grey belt land to not be regarded as inappropriate, and the Framework as a material consideration indicates a decision should be made other than in accordance with the outdated development plan.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 1 of the City and District of St Albans District Local Plan Review 1994
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 155Paragraph 156Paragraph 157Paragraph 143Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 57

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 St Albans City Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Planning permission granted15 September 20263311314
    Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY
  2. Dismissed10 July 20266008445
    202 Radlett Road, Frogmore, St Albans, AL2 2EN
  3. Planning permission granted8 July 20263374921
    39 The Broadway, Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, AL4 9LW
  4. Notice upheld8 July 20263360007
    39 The Broadway, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LW
  5. Dismissed10 June 20266005367
    Beaumont 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.

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.