Minister allows Gypsy caravan site appeal - Hertfordshire

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has allowed an appeal over the refusal by St Albans City and District Council over a proposal for the retention of a Gypsy caravan site in a Green Belt location.

The case involved a residential caravan site for 10 Gypsy families each with two caravans, including retention of existing hard standing, boundary walls/ fencing and associated operational development at Land at Tullochside Farm, Hemel Hempstead Road, Redbourn, Hertfordshire,

The minister accepted the recommendation of the inspector who held the inquiry last August. All parties at the hearing accepted that the site represented inappropriate development in the countryside.

However, the Secretary of State also shared the Inspector's conclusion that, subject to the imposition of a landscaping condition, the development would not harm the character or appearance of the surrounding area or the visual amenities of the Green Belt.

In addition he agreed with the inspector that there were other considerations which were in favour of the appeal. These included such factors as the unmet need for gypsy sites and the failure of the development plan to meet the need. Also cited was the families’ need for a settled, site, the children’s educational requirements and considerations to do with the residents’ human rights under the European Convention.

The decision letter said: “The Secretary of State concludes that the harm by reason of inappropriateness and other harm identified is clearly outweighed by the summation of other considerations, and concludes that very special circumstances do exist to justify the inappropriate development in the Green Belt.”

Read the decision letter and inspector’s report. (pdf)