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Dismissed6 May 20266002208

71, Sandridge Road,, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4AG

Planning appeal 6002208 at 71, Sandridge Road,, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 4AG (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 6 May 2026 by Inspector Fern L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupants of neighbouring flats regarding the amount of useable outdoor space.

erection of a single storey house with associated parking and landscaping, following demolition of existing garage

Authority
St Albans City Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Fern L
Postcode
AL1 4AG

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupants of neighbouring flats regarding the amount of useable outdoor space
  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the appeal site and the surrounding area

What decided it

The significant loss of useable outdoor space for the neighbouring flat occupants, reducing it below acceptable standards for healthy living conditions, outweighs the benefits of housing supply and efficient land use when assessed against the Framework.

The benefits of housing supply within a sustainable location, efficient land use, and economic contribution attract only limited weight, whereas the unacceptable reduction in outdoor space for neighbouring flat occupants and harm to character and appearance weigh significantly against the proposal; the identified harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 69Policy 70
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in St Albans City Council

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

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  5. Allowed7 November 20243343986
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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.