Planning appeal decision
1 Ragged Hall Lane, Chiswell Green, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3LA
Planning appeal 3352246 at 1 Ragged Hall Lane, Chiswell Green, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3LA (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 14 March 2025 by Inspector Wright A, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area.
the construction of 3 bedroom chalet bungalow including new access, parking and external works
- Authority
- St Albans City Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Wright A
- Postcode
- AL2 3LA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- road user safety and the free flow of traffic, with particular regard to access arrangements
What decided it
The significant and demonstrable harm to character and appearance and road user safety outweighed the modest housing benefit, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
the harm to character and appearance and road user safety, carrying significant weight, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest benefit of one family-sized home to housing supply, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- saved Policy 74 of the St Albans District Local Plan Review 1994saved Policy 34 of the St Albans District Local Plan Review 1994Policy S5 of the St Stephen Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2022Policy S6 of the St Stephen Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2022
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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


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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.
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