Additional floor on landmark building rejected

Plans to construct a second storey on a prominent building in Parliament Square have been rejected after a government inspector dismissed an appeal against refusal of planning premission by East Herts Council.

The plans were initially submitted in March 2021 and would have seen the addition of a second floor to create a two bedroom flat with a roof terrace, along with internal alterations to ground floor shop unit and first floor flat.

Objections to the proposals were received from local residents, Hertford Town Council and Hertford Civic Society.

The district council refused planning permission citing the harmful impact on the Hertford Conservation Area and inadequate living accomodation.

A further planning application was submitted in October 2021, which was also refused by East Herts Council.

An appeal against the council's decision was submitted to the government's Planning Inspectorate, disgreeing with the council's judgement that the appearance of the additional floor would be harmful to the Conservation Area. Other instances where additional floors have been added to buildings in the town centre were also highlighted.

However, planning inspector Mrs Chris Pipe agreed with the council's decision and dismissed the appeal, commenting:

Despite, the attempt by the Appellant to integrate the proposed development with the surrounding area through the use of matching stone surrounding, brickwork and window design. The design and scale of the proposed development along with a roof terrace which would include a glazed balustrade would appear at odds to the adjacent properties and would be a discordant feature to the building and the streetscene in general.

My attention has been drawn by the Appellant to buildings within the surrounding area which have had additional floors inserted. I have visited these buildings and the settings nor the relationship with neighbouring buildings are comparable to the appeal site. Notwithstanding this each development must be considered on its individual merits, and I have reached my conclusion based on the individual merit of the appeal proposal.

I conclude that the proposal would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Hertford Conservation Area and the setting of surrounding Listed Buildings.

The full Appeal Decision can be found on the Planning Inspectorate's website