More good news for the Green Belt! Appeal dismissed, Shenley Road, Radlett

Good news for the Green Belt at Radlett in Hertsmere Borough. The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal from Fairfax Acquisitions Ltd who wanted to build 195 dwellings on Green Belt land to the south of Shenley Road. This is the fifth dismissal of a speculative Green Belt development proposal in Hertfordshire in just the past six months!

We’re pleased with the Inspector’s decision to dismiss the planning appeal at Radlett. Along with local residents we objected to the proposal, and Hertsmere Borough Council refused permission. The applicant then appealed the refusal, and the appeal was heard by the Planning Inspectorate at an Inquiry in August and October 2023.

The Planning Inspector has now issued his Decision, dismissing the appeal and upholding the Council’s refusal of permission. The Inspector makes clear that the benefits of the development proposal “do not clearly outweigh the overall significant harm to the Green Belt and the substantial adverse landscape effects on the character and appearance of the area.”

Green Belt protections are being upheld

Every planning case is unique and determined on its own merits, and Planning Inspectorate decisions do not set legal precedent. But we are delighted that there is a clear trend emerging in Hertfordshire of speculative development proposals in the Green Belt being dismissed at appeal.

The protection of the Green Belt enshrined in local and national planning policies is being upheld, notwithstanding countervailing planning factors such as a local authority not being able to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land, or not having an up-to-date adopted Local Plan.

In addition to this case at Radlett, in just the past six months there have been four other speculative mass house-building appeal dismissals as follows. You can download the Planning Inspector’s decision in each:

Application by Vistry Homes for 150 dwellings in the Green Belt at Tollgate Road, Colney Heath, St Albans District

Application by Redrow for 310 dwellings in the Green Belt at Little Bushey Lane, Bushey, Hertsmere Borough

Application by Griggs for 37 dwellings at Harris Lane, Shenley in Hertsmere Borough

Application by Aurora Properties for 125 dwellings at Bradmore Way, Brookmans Park, Welwyn Hatfield Borough, at which we were a Rule 6 Party and participated fully at the Inquiry.

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