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Dismissed16 January 20263375631

14 West Common Grove, Harpenden, AL5 2LL

Planning appeal 3375631 at 14 West Common Grove, Harpenden, AL5 2LL (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 16 January 2026 by Inspector Bennett T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Harpenden Conservation Area.

single storey front, rear and side extension, internal alterations to openings, solar panels. Detached garage, new boundary treatment to southern elevation, closure of driveway on southern end of plot with hedging

Authority
St Albans City Council
Appeal type
householder · Householder (HAS)
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Householder developments
Inspector
Bennett T
Postcode
AL5 2LL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether the proposed development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Harpenden Conservation Area

What decided it

The replacement of the pitched front gable with flat roof elements and the prominent flat-roofed garage would harmfully disrupt the traditional cohesive roof forms of the conservation area and detract from its significance, with insufficient public benefits to outweigh this harm.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 85Policy 72Policy 69Policy ESD1Policy ESD2
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 215

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 St Albans City Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Dismissed25 September 20266009808
    58 And 60 Waverley Road St, St Albans, St Albans, AL3 5PE
  2. Dismissed22 September 20266013802
    33 Oakfield Road, Harpenden, AL52NP
  3. Invalid17 September 20266008247
    18 Manland Way, Harpenden, AL5 4QS
  4. Planning permission granted15 September 20263311314
    Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY
  5. Notice upheld15 September 20263311308
    Land at Former Butterfly World, Miriam Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2 3NY

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.