13 Folly Fields, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8HJ

Planning appeal 3365345 at 13 Folly Fields, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8HJ (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 6 August 2025 by Inspector Walker C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies.

construction of first floor side and rear extension, with car port beneath side extension

Authority: St Albans City Council
Appeal type: householder · Householder (HAS)
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Householder developments
Inspector: Walker C
Postcode: AL4 8HJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
the effect of the development on the openness of the Green Belt
whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal

What decided it

The 58% increase in floor space represents a disproportionate addition to the original building that cannot be justified by the limited other considerations advanced, and therefore very special circumstances do not exist to permit inappropriate Green Belt development.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy 1Policy 13
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 142Paragraph 153Paragraph 154

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.