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Allowed17 February 20266001316

Land Adjacent to 42 Lemsford Village, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7TR

Planning appeal 6001316 at Land Adjacent to 42 Lemsford Village, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 7TR (Welwyn Hatfield Council) was allowed on 17 February 2026 by Inspector Simms S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework.

the construction of two new semi-detached dwellings

Authority
Welwyn Hatfield Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Simms S
Postcode
AL8 7TR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the development would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt having regard to any relevant development plan policies and the National Planning Policy Framework
  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including the Lemsford Conservation Area

What decided it

The shortage of housing land in the borough (2.3 years' supply) engaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and the limited and less than substantial harm to the conservation area did not provide a strong reason for refusal.

The benefits of two dwellings and economic activity from construction and population patronising local businesses outweighed the limited and less than substantial harm to the Lemsford Conservation Area.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SADM 34Policy SP1Policy SP9Policy SADM15Policy SADM16
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 154Paragraph 155Paragraph 61Paragraph 215Paragraph 11

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 Welwyn Hatfield

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

  1. Dismissed5 October 20266009892
    2A Whitehill, Welwyn, AL6 9AF
  2. Dismissed9 September 20266010292
    Rose Cottage, Kentish Lane, Hatfield, AL9 6JP
  3. Dismissed28 May 20266003203
    49 The Ridgeway, Cuffley, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 4BD
  4. Dismissed27 May 20266003536
    East Lodge, Judge's Hill, Northaw, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 4NL
  5. Planning permission granted6 March 20263354671
    20 Ayot Green, Ayot St. Peter, Welwyn, AL6 9AB

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.