Playing Fields, St Columbas College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4AW

Planning appeal 3361812 at Playing Fields, St Columbas College, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 4AW (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 14 July 2025 by Inspector Street E, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposal would be inappropriate in the Green Belt.

addition of pathway lighting to serve existing access footpath

Authority: St Albans City Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: utilities-energy · Other minor developments
Inspector: Street E
Postcode: AL3 4AW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the proposal would be inappropriate in the Green Belt
The effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
Whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the St Albans Conservation Area
Whether any harm 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 proposal

What decided it

The proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt that would reduce its openness, and the health and safety benefits do not amount to very special circumstances sufficient to outweigh this substantial harm.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy 1 of the St Albans District Local Plan Review 1994
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 154Paragraph 212Paragraph 13Paragraph 16

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in St Albans City Council

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

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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.