®Planning appeal decision
Moor Mill Tanker Depot, Smug Oak Lane, Bricket Wood , Hertfordshire, AL2 3TZ
‘outline planning permission for the erection of 9. no dwellings with access, parking and associated works’
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Wright A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
- the effect of the proposal on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt
- whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, having regard to the accessibility of services and facilities
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The substantial harm to Green Belt openness and conflict with Green Belt purposes, combined with the unsustainable location requiring reliance on private vehicles, are not clearly outweighed by the modest housing contribution, such that very special circumstances do not exist.
The application of Framework Green Belt policies provides a strong reason to refuse the development notwithstanding the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply; the modest weight given to housing delivery and limited economic benefits do not clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the Green Belt.
Framework references: 11, 154, 155
Plan policies cited: Policy 1 of the St Albans District Local Plan Review 1994, Policy S1 of the St Stephen Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2022
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.