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Dismissed17 April 20266003311

The Old Rectory, Gilston Lane, Gilston, CM20 2RF

Planning appeal 6003311 at The Old Rectory, Gilston Lane, Gilston, CM20 2RF (East Hertfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 17 April 2026 by Inspector Allen K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the appeal site would be an appropriate location for the proposal, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy, access to services and facilities and the use of sustainable transport.

the conversion of garage and studio annex into a two bedroom 1st floor maisonette, with creation of associated residential curtilage, construction of refuse and cycle storage and parking provision

Authority
East Hertfordshire District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Allen K
Postcode
CM20 2RF

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the appeal site would be an appropriate location for the proposal, having regard to the Council's spatial strategy, access to services and facilities and the use of sustainable transport
  • the effect of the proposal on the provision of agricultural and equestrian facilities within the district
  • the effect of the proposal on the integrity of the Hatfield Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve
  • the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The application of Framework policies protecting Sites of Special Scientific Interest provides a clear reason for refusal under paragraph 11d)(i), displacing the presumption in favour of sustainable development that would otherwise apply due to the Council's inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.

The benefits of one additional dwelling and efficient reuse of an existing building were outweighed by conflicts with the development plan regarding location sustainability, loss of agricultural and equestrian facilities, and unmitigated harm to the integrity of Hatfield Forest SSSI.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy INT1Policy DPS2Policy GBR2Policy TRA1Policy ED2Policy CFLR6Policy NE1Policy HOU12Policy DES2Policy DES4Policy GA1
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.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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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.