®Planning appeal decision
Former Hook Estate and Kennels, Coopers Lane Road / Firs Wood Close, Northaw, EN6 4BY
for outline planning application with all matters reserved except for primary means of access for C2 (extra care) dwellings, ancillary community facilities, extensive landscaping, and access from Coopers Lane Road
- Authority
- Welwyn Hatfield Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Wilkinson S
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the appeal scheme on the Green Belt and whether it would accord with policy
- The effect of the scheme on the character and appearance of the area
- Whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of designated heritage assets with particular regard to Hook House a Grade II listed building
- The effect of the appeal scheme on protected species with particular regard to the Great Crested Newt and the site's biodiversity
- The location of the development with regard to access to shops and services
What decided it
The tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11d)ii, whereby the substantial benefits of the scheme (notably housing and specialist C2 housing provision) were found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the limited Green Belt and landscape harm identified.
the substantial benefits of housing delivery (including 150 specialist C2 units), health and wellbeing, economic and biodiversity benefits significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited Green Belt harm and moderate landscape harm identified
Framework references: 11, 58, 110, 135, 143, 154, 155, 156, 157, 159, 187, 215, 232
Plan policies cited: SP7, SADM34, SP9, SADM16, D2, SADM15, SP1, SP4, SP13, SADM1, SADM3, SP11, SP12, SP2
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.