®Planning appeal decision
Land off Barkway Road and North of Flint Hall, Barkway Road, Easting: 536403; Northing: 239870, Royston, SG8 9DF
outline planning application for residential development of up to 280 dwellings (including affordable housing) green infrastructure including public open space, landscape boundaries and SUDS with all matters reserved except for access which is to be taken from Barkway Road
- Authority
- North Hertfordshire
- Appeal type
- major · Planning
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential
- Postcode
- SG8 9DF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would provide adequate opportunity for travel by residents and visitors by non-car transport modes
- the effect of the proposal on the local highway network and highway safety
- the effect of the proposal on Therfield Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- whether any material considerations, including the provision of housing, warrant a decision other than in accordance with the development plan
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate a five year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, and the significant benefits of market and affordable housing delivery outweighed the minor identified harms.
the minor harms arising from conflict with LP Policies SP5, CGB1 and SP9 (and related Framework paragraphs) did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the significant benefits of housing and affordable housing provision together with the moderate benefits of BNG, green infrastructure and highway/PRoW improvements, so the balance favoured allowing the appeal
Framework references: 11, 57, 58, 110, 115, 116, 117, 118, 193
Plan policies cited: Policy SP9, Policy SP6, Policy T1, Policy SP12, Policy NE1, Policy NE4, Policy NE2, Policy SP5, Policy CGB1
Judgments cited: Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE [JPL 1982 P37]; Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin); Bellway Homes Ltd v SSHCLG [2025] EWHC 1455 (Admin); Satnam Millenium Ltd v Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government v Warrington Borough Council [2019] EWHC 2631 (Admin)
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.