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Allowed7 July 20266004178

Land off Barkway Road and North of Flint Hall, Barkway Road, Easting: 536403; Northing: 239870, Royston, SG8 9DF

Planning appeal 6004178 at Land off Barkway Road and North of Flint Hall, Barkway Road, Easting: 536403; Northing: 239870, Royston, SG8 9DF (North Hertfordshire) was allowed on 7 July 2026 by Inspector R Sabu, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would provide adequate opportunity for travel by residents and visitors by non-car transport modes.

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
Inspector
R Sabu
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

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SP9Policy SP6Policy T1Policy SP12Policy NE1Policy NE4Policy NE2Policy SP5Policy CGB1
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 57Paragraph 58Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 116Paragraph 117Paragraph 118Paragraph 193
Judgments
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)

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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More decisions in North Hertfordshire

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Dismissed7 May 20263375383
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  3. Dismissed15 January 20263350659
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  4. Allowed15 July 20253359065
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  5. Allowed27 June 20253349177
    Land North of Ashwell Street, Ashwell, SG7 5LN

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.