®Planning appeal decision
Land to the South of Oakhill, Danebridge Lane, Much Hadham, Herts, SG10 6HX
Planning appeal 3374766 at Land to the South of Oakhill, Danebridge Lane, Much Hadham, Herts, SG10 6HX (East Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 15 April 2026 by Inspector Lawrence R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location for housing, having regard to the development strategy for the area and access to services.
Erection of 1no self-build and custom dwelling
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Lawrence R
- Postcode
- SG10 6HX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would be in a suitable location for housing, having regard to the development strategy for the area and access to services
- the effect of the proposed development on the Hatfield Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve
What decided it
The proposal would result in significant harm to the integrity of Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest due to inadequately secured mitigation, which provides a strong reason for refusal that outweighs the modest housing benefits.
The modest benefits of housing delivery and local spending, arising during a period of housing land supply shortfall, were outweighed by significant weight attached to conflict with spatial policies and overriding importance of significant harm to Hatfield Forest SSSI and NNR integrity.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DPS2Policy VILL3Policy GBR2Policy TRA1Policy INT1Policy NE1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 84Paragraph 70
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 appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in East Hertfordshire District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Dismissed19 October 20266009679Land to the West of Ginns Road, Ginns Road, Stocking Pelham, SG9 0JD
- Dismissed15 October 20266010602Duck Street Cottage, The Street, Furneux Pelham, SG9 0LA
- Allowed24 September 20266008238Land North of A507, West of A10, Buntingford, Buntingford, SG9 9ER
- Allowed23 September 20266007451The White House, Dane End, Ware, SG12 0LP
- Dismissed7 September 20266006819Land South Of The Street, Furneux Pelham, SG9 0LD
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.