®Planning appeal decision
Wickham House , Station Road, Braughing , Ware Herts, SG11 2PB
Planning appeal 3348806 at Wickham House , Station Road, Braughing , Ware Herts, SG11 2PB (East Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 31 March 2025 by Inspector Williams K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would comply with local and national planning policy which seeks to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding.
the extension and change of use from existing commercial to 4no. residential units
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Williams K
- Postcode
- SG11 2PB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would comply with local and national planning policy which seeks to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding
- whether the proposal is in a suitable location having particular regard to the accessibility of the site
- whether appropriate measures to mitigate against climate change are proposed
What decided it
The proposal fails to apply the Sequential Test and does not demonstrate that reasonably available sites with lower probability of flooding have been considered, contrary to Policies WAT1 and WAT5 and Framework paragraphs 170 and 173-179.
The failure to adequately address flood risk and conflict with development plan and national policy on flood risk, to which significant weight is attached, outweighs the neutral matters and limited benefits of the proposal; the tilted balance at paragraph 11d)ii does not apply due to strong reasons for refusal relating to flood risk.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy WAT1Policy WAT5Policy DPS2Policy TRA1Policy CC1Policy CC2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 110Paragraph 170Paragraph 173Paragraph 174Paragraph 175Paragraph 176Paragraph 177Paragraph 178Paragraph 179
- Judgments
- Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney (2018); Bernard Wheatcroft v Secretary of State for the Environment (1982)
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 East Hertfordshire District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Allowed12 November 20253368411Quinbury Farm Stables, Hay Street, Braughing, Hertfordshire, SG11 2RE
- Allowed30 October 20253362885Land Adj To 1 South Cottages, Side Hilly , The Ford Little Hadham , Hertfordshire, SG11 2AT
- Allowed22 August 202533668661 Hillhead Perry Green, Much Hadham, SG10 6DU
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.