®Planning appeal decision
147 North Approach, Hertfordshire, Watford, WD25 0EP
Planning appeal 6002225 at 147 North Approach, Hertfordshire, Watford, WD25 0EP (Watford Borough Council) was dismissed on 18 March 2026 by Inspector Allen K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the existing property is suitable for sub-division into a large scale HMO, with particular regard to the original floor area, access to public transport and other amenities, amenity space and parking capacity.
the erection of part single, part two-storey rear extension, hip-to-gable loft conversion with rear dormer to facilitate Change of use from C3 Dwelling House to Sui Generis 7 Bed HMO including provision for car and cycle parking, external amenity spaces, and ot her associated works
- Authority
- Watford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Allen K
- Postcode
- WD25 0EP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the existing property is suitable for sub-division into a large scale HMO, with particular regard to the original floor area, access to public transport and other amenities, amenity space and parking capacity
What decided it
The existing property's location in a Low Sustainability Zone with poor access to public transport and other amenities would result in high car dependency for the 7-bed HMO, conflicting with Policies HO3.9 and QD6.4 and the Framework's requirement for development to function well and be accessible.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy HO3.9Policy QD6.4Policy ST11.5
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
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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.