The Green Belt at Cuffley – Settlement Reached Prior to Judicial Review

Planning application for 14 dwellings in the Green Belt at Cuffley in Welwyn Hatfield Borough will now be reconsidered by the Council.

As we reported in March 2023, a local resident in Cuffley had brought a claim for judicial review against Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The claim challenged the Council’s resolution to grant planning permission for 14 homes within the Green Belt at Wells Farm, Cuffley. The Council’s resolution to grant permission in October 2022 followed a previous decision in September 2022 to refuse permission, with the reasons for the change unexplained by the Council.

The local resident’s claim argued that:

• Councillors did not have enough information before them to guide their decision to rescind their earlier resolution;
• The Council acted contrary to the established legal principle of consistency in decision making; and
• In deciding to grant permission, the Council failed to consider its reasons for earlier resolving to refuse permission.

A settlement has now been reached and the Council has agreed that the planning application will be considered afresh. The Council has also paid the resident a contribution to towards their costs.

CPRE Hertfordshire continues to advise and support local residents who are fighting for the countryside.

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Read our original submittal regarding this development proposal.

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