®Planning appeal decision
Riversmeet, Station Road, Braughing, Ware, SG11 2PB
Planning appeal 3375663 at Riversmeet, Station Road, Braughing, Ware, SG11 2PB (East Hertfordshire District Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 13 March 2026 by Inspector Hartley D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the unauthorised development on the character and appearance of the countryside.
without planning permission, the material change of use of the land to a residential Gypsy and Traveller caravan site, comprising the siting of one prefabricated residential structure and the formation of a hardstanding
- Authority
- East Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
- Inspector
- Hartley D
- Postcode
- SG11 2PB
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the unauthorised development on the character and appearance of the countryside
- Whether the site is in a sustainable location in terms of accessibility to existing local services
- The effect of the breach of planning control on biodiversity
- Whether the sequential test is passed in the context that the appeal site falls within flood zones 2 and 3
What decided it
The significant harm to the character and appearance of the countryside, combined with the unsustainable location and failure to satisfy biodiversity and flood risk requirements, outweighed the benefits arising from unmet Gypsy and Traveller need and the personal circumstances of the occupiers.
The significant harm to rural character and appearance, unsustainable location, and failure to meet biodiversity and flood risk policy requirements were weighed against unmet Gypsy and Traveller pitch need, the absence of alternative sites, and the personal circumstances and welfare of the occupiers including children with disabilities; the planning harms were found to outweigh these considerations, though the compliance period was extended from nine to twelve months to allow time to secure alternative accommodation.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy GBR2Policy DES2Policy HOU9Policy HOU9(a)Policy HOU9(g)Policy NE3Policy WAT1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 4Paragraph 11Paragraph 27Paragraph 28Paragraph 110Paragraph 173Paragraph 174Paragraph 175Paragraph 176Paragraph 187
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
- Allowed6 July 202633595151 Vine Cottages, Hare Street, Herts, Herts, SG9 0EG
- Dismissed3 July 20263368629Land Adj Robin Hill , High Molewood, Hertford, SG14 2PL
- Notice upheld3 July 20263342403Brookfield Farm Barns, West End Road, Wormley West End, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7QN
- Notice varied and upheld24 June 20263345459Land on South-East Side of Danebridge Road, Much Haddam, Hertfordshire, SG10 6EJ
- Planning permission granted24 June 20263342391Land South of Alston Oak, Harlow Road, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 0AJ
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.