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Dismissed9 July 20266007156

63-65, St Peter's Street, St Albans, AL1 3EA

Planning appeal 6007156 at 63-65, St Peter's Street, St Albans, AL1 3EA (St Albans City Council) was dismissed on 9 July 2026 by Inspector N Bowden, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would provide satisfactory living conditions for the future occupants having particular regard to units/flats 2 and 3 in relation to light and outlook.

demolition of existing buildings and erection of a part one, four and five storey building comprising 2no. retail units (Use Class E) and 14no. residential dwellings (Use Class C3) above with associated landscaping and alterations

Authority
St Albans City Council
Appeal type
major · Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
residential
Inspector
N Bowden
Postcode
AL1 3EA

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposed development would provide satisfactory living conditions for the future occupants having particular regard to units/flats 2 and 3 in relation to light and outlook
  • the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the St Albans Conservation Area (StACA)
  • whether the proposed developments provide for infrastructure needs including (but not limited to) education, library service, parks and open space and leisure, highways and cultural centre improvements

What decided it

Flats 2 and 3 would receive very limited amounts of natural light to the living/dining/kitchen areas resulting in substandard living conditions for the occupants, which must attract significant weight greater than that afforded to the benefits of the scheme.

The significant benefits of delivering 14 new dwellings, the sustainable location, and preservation of the conservation area were outweighed by the unacceptable living conditions for occupants of flats 2 and 3 due to insufficient natural light.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy 70Policy 2Policy 69Policy 85Policy 143B
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 8

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 St Albans City Council

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

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  5. Notice upheld15 September 20263311308
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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.