Cromer Hyde Farm, Marford Road, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7XD

the change of use of land to 'Outdoor sport and recreation' and the construction of an equestrian livery building

Authority: Welwyn Hatfield Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: leisure-sport · Change of use
Inspector: Rawle S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework and any relevant development plan policies
Whether the proposal would result in the unacceptable loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land
Whether adequate information has been provided to demonstrate whether or not the proposed development would be at an unacceptable risk of flooding
Whether or not the harm by reason of the proposal being inappropriate development within the Green Belt, and any other harm, 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 proposal represents inappropriate development in the Green Belt that harmfully diminishes openness, and the resulting harm is not clearly outweighed by other considerations, so very special circumstances do not exist to justify approval.

Framework references: 154, 155

Plan policies cited: Policy SADM34, Policy SP1, Policy SADM2, Policy SP3, Policy SP24, Policy SP11, Policy SADM14

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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