Land adjacent to 24 Lindum place, St Albans, AL3 4JJ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
• whether the proposal would provide suitable living conditions for future occupants in terms of privacy in the rear garden area and whether the proposed dwelling would offer satisfactory internal accommodation
• the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupants of 131 and 133 Westfields in terms of outlook, daylight and sunlight
• the effect on protected trees
• the effect on highway safety

What decided it

The cumulative effect of harm to character and appearance, living conditions of future and neighbouring occupants, protected trees, and highway safety, which significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits of one additional dwelling.

The limited benefits of housing delivery and economic benefits from one additional dwelling were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial harms to character and appearance, living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, privacy for future occupants, protected trees, and highway safety, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.