®Planning appeal decision
25A Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 2AE
Planning appeal 6002278 at 25A Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 2AE (Dacorum Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 February 2026 by Inspector Walker C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including its surrounding heritage context.
5 No. flats with undercroft parking
- Authority
- Dacorum Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Walker C
- Postcode
- HP4 2AE
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area, including its surrounding heritage context
- the effect of the development on the occupiers of adjacent buildings, with particular regard to light, outlook and privacy, and on the future occupiers of the appeal building in respect of privacy and noise
- whether the development provides for suitable vehicular access and parking
What decided it
The harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area and the less than substantial but considerable harm to the significance of the designated heritage assets could not be justified by the public benefits of housing delivery, particularly given the modest net gain of three dwellings.
The considerable benefits of housing delivery and economic benefits were outweighed by the identified harms to the designated heritage assets, which the Inspector found provided a strong reason for refusing the development; the proposal did not benefit from the presumption in favour of sustainable development under Paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CS10CS11CS12CS27CS8CS32Policy 120Appendix 3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 212Paragraph 215
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 Dacorum
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Allowed15 October 20266012966126 Bennetts End Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8DZ
- Allowed14 October 20266006896Apsley Depot, Ebberns Road, Apsley, HP3 9RE
- Dismissed2 October 20266011489Plot HD587047 of Lot B2A, Upper Bourne End Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2RR
- Dismissed13 July 2026600572287 Chambersbury Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8BD
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.