®Planning appeal decision
Pulmer Water Caravan Site, St Albans Road, Codicote, Hertfordshire, SG4 8SP
Planning appeal 6000934 at Pulmer Water Caravan Site, St Albans Road, Codicote, Hertfordshire, SG4 8SP (North Hertfordshire District Council) was allowed on 4 March 2026 by Inspector Sylvester G, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development would be inappropriate in the Green Belt having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework ("the Framework").
Change of use of land for residential caravan site for 8 gypsy families including hardstanding and existing lights
- Authority
- North Hertfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- other · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- caravan-gypsy · Unknown
- Inspector
- Sylvester G
- Postcode
- SG4 8SP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development would be inappropriate in the Green Belt having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework ("the Framework").
- The effect of the development on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt.
- Whether the future occupants of the appeal site would be within a reasonable distance of local services and facilities.
What decided it
The unmet, immediate need of the gypsy and traveller occupants for culturally appropriate accommodation, with no reasonably available alternative, together with the human rights and equality implications of refusal, were found to amount to very special circumstances outweighing the Green Belt harm.
the substantial weight attached to the harm to the Green Belt (inappropriateness, loss of openness and encroachment) was clearly outweighed by the cumulative significant weight of other considerations (unmet accommodation need, site suitability, personal circumstances and human rights, PSED), amounting to very special circumstances justifying the development
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP5NHLP Policy CD6NHLP Policy HS7
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 110
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in North Hertfordshire
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Allowed10 July 20266008092Fen Farm, Rabley Heath Road, Codicote, AL6 9UA
- Allowed7 July 20266004178Land off Barkway Road and North of Flint Hall, Barkway Road, Easting: 536403; Northing: 239870, Royston, SG8 9DF
- Dismissed7 May 20263375383Land At Chruch Wood, Three Houses Lane, Codicote, Hertfordshire, SG4 8
- Dismissed23 September 20253368416Land Adjacent To Breachwood Green Industrial Park, Pasture Lane, Hitchin, SG4 8NY
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.