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Dismissed24 October 20253369632

Trees , Gosmore Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9AN

Planning appeal 3369632 at Trees , Gosmore Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9AN (North Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 24 October 2025 by Inspector Bowden N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.

the construction of 3no detached dwellings with garages following demolition of existing house and outbuildings

Authority
North Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Bowden N
Postcode
SG4 9AN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
  • the effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of neighbours having particular regard to overlooking and visual impact upon number 8 Coach Drive

What decided it

The significant harms to character and appearance and to neighbouring living conditions outweigh the modest housing benefit, even under the tilted balance test.

the modest benefit of providing two additional dwellings did not outweigh the significant harms to character and appearance and living conditions of neighbours

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy D1Policy D3
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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in North Hertfordshire

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

  1. Dismissed19 October 20266008747
    Land to the Front of Everglades, Maiden Street, Weston, Hitchin, SG4 7AA
  2. Allowed3 September 20266008022
    11 Kingswood Avenue, Hitchin, SG4 0PA
  3. Dismissed23 June 20253362928
    10 St. Katherines Close, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3XS
  4. Dismissed23 May 20253355885
    Land at 51 Beech Way, Wheathampstead, St. Albans, AL4 8LY
  5. Dismissed14 July 20233311553
    Land Between Cherry Holt and 2 Caldecote Road, Newnham, Hertfordshire, SG7 5JZ

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.