®Planning appeal decision
Woodcotes, Fears Green, Sandon, SG9 0QZ
Planning appeal 6009246 at Woodcotes, Fears Green, Sandon, SG9 0QZ (North Hertfordshire) was dismissed on 7 October 2026, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the development plan and site accessibility.
the erection of three residential dwellings and associated works following demolition of no.3 redundant agricultural buildings, demolition of existing cartlodge and partial demolition of existing garage/outbuilding
- Authority
- North Hertfordshire
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Postcode
- SG9 0QZ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the development plan and site accessibility
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The site's location in open countryside, physically separated from any settlement and lacking sustainable transport accessibility, combined with the harmful effect on rural character and appearance, means the proposal falls outside the categories of development supported by Framework Policy S5 and conflicts with the development plan, with benefits that do not substantially outweigh the adverse effects.
The benefits of providing three dwellings to address housing need (given the Council's 2.6–3.3 year supply shortfall) and limited socio-economic benefits were given substantial and moderate weight respectively, and the fallback position limited weight; however, these were outweighed by considerable weight given to the conflict with the development plan arising from the unsustainable location in open countryside and the further weight of poor design causing harmful effects on character and appearance.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SP1Policy SP2Policy CGB1Policy CGB4Policy SP9Policy D1Policy SP6Policy T1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Policy S5Policy TR3Policy H07
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 appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in North Hertfordshire
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Allowed1 October 20266009720Land Adjacent To 1 Ninesprings Cottage, Wymondley Road, Hitchin, SG4 9QL
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.