The Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Development Management Committee met on 11 September 2025 to discuss several planning applications, appeal decisions, and future planning applications. The meeting was scheduled to discuss planning applications for developments in Welham Green, Digswell, and Hatfield. The committee was also scheduled to review recent appeal decisions and consider a list of potential future planning applications.

Land South Of Welham Manor, And West Of Station Road, Welham Green

The report pack included an update on application 6/2024/2418/MAJ for the demolition of existing structures and the erection of 64 new homes on land south of Welham Manor and west of Station Road, including 26 Station Road, Welham Green.

The application had been previously considered at a meeting on 24 July 2025, but a decision was deferred to await advice from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) regarding access to the adjacent site at 24 Station Road. Councillor Paul Zukowskyj had previously objected to the application, but withdrew his objection after receiving pre-application advice from HCC.

The proposed development site is designated as housing allocation site HS45, and forms part of a larger housing allocation with site HS44 under Local Plan Policy SADM30 Housing Allocations in Welham Green for 84 dwellings. The report pack noted that the proposed 64 homes would comprise a mix of apartments and houses, with 42 market homes and 22 affordable homes.

The report pack stated that North Mymms Parish Council had raised a major objection to the proposed development, citing concerns about increased traffic on Station Road, restricted access for utility and delivery vehicles, and a lack of provision for additional doctor's surgeries, dental practices, or secondary schools.

The report pack stated that the main planning issues to be considered in the determination of this application were:

• 1. Principle of the development
• 2. Quality of design and impact on the character of the area
• 3. Residential amenity
• 4. Highways and parking considerations
• 5. Other considerations
• 6. Planning obligations
• 7. The planning balance

The report pack stated that the application was recommended for approval subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 planning agreement¹ and a Section 278 agreement².

New Road, Digswell, Welwyn

The report pack included a report relating to application 6/2024/1183/MAJ for the erection of a 3-storey building containing nine apartments at 55 New Road, Digswell, Welwyn, following the demolition of the existing dwelling. The proposed building would comprise 4 x 2-bed apartments and 5 x 3-bed apartments. The development would include alterations to access, provision of parking, and bin/cycle stores.

The report pack stated that Welwyn Parish Council had raised a major objection to the application, citing concerns about the size and bulk of the development, its incompatibility with the character of the area, inadequate parking, impact on habitats, biodiversity and wildlife, and the location of the development in an unsustainable area.

The report pack stated that the main planning issues to be considered in the determination of this application were:

• 1. Principle of development
• 2. Quality of design and impact on the character of the area.
• 3. Residential amenity
• 4. Highways and parking considerations
• 5. Other considerations
• 6. The planning balance

The report pack stated that the application was recommended for approval subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 planning agreement.

The North Star, 82 Great North Road, Welwyn

The report pack included a report relating to application 6/2025/0781/FULL for a change of use of The North Star, 82 Great North Road, Welwyn, from a public house to a children's nursery. The proposal also included the conversion of the existing garage to a bin and buggy store, a new car parking layout, associated landscaping, and replacement of the front boundary wall.

The report pack stated that Councillor Sunny Thusu and Welwyn Parish Council had called in the application, citing concerns about the loss of the public house as a valued community facility, highways and parking issues, potential overprovision of nurseries in the local area, and general amenity impacts on nearby residents.

The report pack stated that the main planning issues to be considered in the determination of this application were:

• 1. Principle of development (Community Facilities)
• 2. Quality of design and impact on the character of the area
• 3. Residential amenity
• 4. Highways and parking considerations
• 5. Flood risk/drainage
• 6. Ecology and biodiversity
• 7. Other considerations
• 8. Conclusion

The report pack stated that the application was recommended for approval subject to conditions.

The Cottages, Foxes Lane, Hatfield

The report pack included a report relating to application 6/2024/2362/FULL for the erection of a single-storey detached dwelling with a basement at The Cottages, Foxes Lane, Hatfield, following the demolition of existing outbuildings.

The report pack noted that a similar application (6/2022/0195/FULL) for a dwelling on the site had been previously refused and dismissed at appeal.

The report pack stated that North Mymms Parish Council had raised a major objection to the application, arguing that it failed to address the reasons for refusal in the previous application and appeal, and that no special circumstances had been demonstrated to justify inappropriate development within the Green Belt.

The report pack stated that the main planning issues to be considered in the determination of this application were:

• 1. Principle of development
• 2. Green Belt
• 3. Quality of design and impact on the character of the area
• 3. Residential amenity
• 4. Highways and parking considerations
• 5. Other considerations
• 6. The planning balance
• 7. Conclusion

The report pack stated that the application was recommended for approval subject to conditions.

Appeal Decisions

The committee was scheduled to note a report Appeal Decisions Committee Report 2 summarising appeal decisions between 14 July 2025 and 1 September 2025. These included:

• Dismissal of appeal APP/C1950/W/25/3361954 relating to application 6/2024/1029/OUTLINE for outline permission for erection of 3 storey block of 14 2-bed flats restricted for the over 55's, with semi-basement parking at Wendover Lodge, Church Street, Welwyn.
• Dismissal of appeal APP/C1950/W/25/3361650 relating to application 6/2023/2425/FULL for change of use of land to residential and erection of four dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping at land adjacent to 51 Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City.
• Allowance of appeal APP/C1950/D/25/3365377 relating to application 6/2024/0945/FULL for change of use to install a driveway at 5 Lady Grove, Welwyn Garden City.

Future Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to note a report Future Applications Cttee Report summarising applications that might be presented to the committee over the coming months. These included:

• Application 6/2025/0563/RM for approval of reserved matters for 169 dwellings at Panshanger Aerodrome, called in by Councillor Jane Quinton.
• Application 6/2023/1677/FULL for retention of change of use of land to form 5 pitches for Gypsy and Traveller family at Emmanuels Farm, Great North Road, Welwyn Garden City, called in by Councillor Samuel Kasumu.
• Application 6/2025/0494/MAJ for re-design of approved planning application for 15 apartments at 71 Station Road, Cuffley, called in by The Clerk, Northaw & Cuffley Parish Council.
• Application 6/2021/0671/MAJ for erection of 317 dwellings at South Side Former Shredded Wheat Factory, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, called in by Councillor Malcolm Cowan.
• Application 6/2025/1214/FULL for change of use from a C3 dwelling to a C2 children's home at 80 Digswell Park Road, Welwyn Garden City, called in by Councillor Leo Gilbert.
• Application 6/2016/1493/VAR for variation of conditions to extend the temporary permission for caravans at Thunderbridge Yard, Bulls Lane, Hatfield, called in by Councillor Paul Zukowskyj and Linsey Steell, North Mymms Parish Council.
• Application 6/2024/1636/FULL for erection of a replacement dwelling at 84 Warrengate Road, North Mymms, Hatfield, called in by Linsey Steell, North Mymms Parish Council.
• Application 6/2024/1907/FULL for change of use from residential dwelling to a residential care home at 11 Gould Close, Welham Green, Hatfield, called in by Councillor Paul Zukowskyj.
• Application 6/2025/0871/OUTLINE for outline application for up to 80 dwellings at Land at Pooleys Lane, Welham Green, called in by Councillor Paul Zukowskyj and Linsey Steell, North Mymms Parish Council.
• Application 6/2025/1458/MAJ for erection of a solar farm at Land at Tollgate Farm, Welham Green, called in by Councillor Paul Zukowskyj.
• Application 6/2023/2093/MAJ for erection of two new residential apartment buildings at 57 New Road, Digswell, Welwyn, called in by Arooj Afzal, Welwyn Parish Council.
• Application 6/2025/0387/MAJ for demolition of the existing house and construction of a new residential apartment building at 57 New Road, Digswell, Welwyn, called in by Councillor Julie Cragg.
• Application 6/2016/0270/VAR for variation of conditions to increase the number of caravans at Four Oaks, 1-4 Great North Road, Welwyn, called in by Councillor Julie Cragg and Arooj Afzal, Welwyn Parish Council.
• Application 6/2025/0067/OUTLINE for outline planning application for the erection of 9 dwellings at 9 The Avenue, Welwyn, called in by Arooj Afzal, Welwyn Parish Council.