Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor Estop.

The Chair reminded Members that a Development Management Forum (DMF) was scheduled to take place in the Council Chamber, Wallfields, at 7.00 pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026, covering development at Old River Lane, Bishop’s Stortford.

The Chair also reminded Members and Officers to use their microphones when speaking.

To receive any Members' declarations of interest.

Councillor Thomas declared that although he was employed by Hertfordshire County Council, he had no prior involvement in the pre?application or pre?planning process relating to application 3/24/0091/OUT.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 11 March 2026.

Councillor Devonshire proposed and Councillor Stowe seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2026 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2026, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Director for Place recommended that in respect of application 3/25/1097/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Principal Planning Officer presented a series of drawings, plans and visualisations of the proposed development. He summarised the details of application 3/25/1097/FUL and set out the location of the site.

Members were advised that the site comprised an undeveloped field with small pockets of trees in a location that was predominantly to the east of the village of Much Hadham, largely outside the village boundary.

The Principal Planning Officer explained that the majority of the site lies within the rural area beyond the Green Belt and he provided a summary of the existing development in the surrounding area. Members were advised that the applicant’s transport statement identified a range of village facilities within walking distance, including a health centre, a local shop and post office, and the primary school to the north of the site.

The Principal Planning Officer advised that bus stops on Tower Hill provided access to the service operating between Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford. It was also noted that Public Footpath 025 run along the southern boundary of the site, while Public Footpath 022 lies close to the north?western corner and was currently mapped as passing through the school grounds.

Members were advised that the proposal included the provision of new pedestrian connections to improve linkages and to provide an alternative east–west route between Tower Hill and Aldor Lane. The site was identified in the Much Hadham Neighbourhood Plan as a reserve housing site intended to meet potential future housing needs and was therefore subject to Policy MH10.

The scheme proposed a low density of 21.8 dwellings per hectare and the development would be concentrated within the central and southern parts of the site, with public open space located to the north.

Members were advised that the scheme would deliver 40% affordable housing (12 units), with a tenure split of 83% affordable rent and 17% shared ownership. The size and tenure mix has been informed by a local housing needs survey, which identified a need for 17 affordable units within the parish.

Members were advised that no affordable housing had been delivered in Much Hadham in recent years and the site lies within Landscape Character Area 93 (the Hadham’s Valley) and adjacent to Landscape Character Area 87 (the Middle Ash Valley).

The Principal Planning Officer said that the landscape and visual impact of the proposal, including effects on priority views identified in the Neighbourhood Plan, had been fully assessed within the committee report.

The site was located within the Much Hadham Conservation Area and in proximity to several listed buildings, including the Grade II listed Hill House and The Arms Houses on Tower Hill. The impact of the development on the conservation area and on the setting of these heritage assets had been assessed and was considered to be acceptable.

Members were advised that vehicular access would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 408.

The meeting reconvened at 20:37 (8:37 pm).

The Director for Place recommended that in respect of application 3/24/0091/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Principal Planning Officer referred to the late representations summary and set out the late representations from Historic England and a letter from a local resident. She summarised the application in detail and set out the location of the site. She presented a series of slides, elevation drawings, parameter plans and visual representations of the proposed development.

The Principal Planning Officer set out the status of High Cross as a group two village and explained that the site was rural land beyond the green belt and that there were no landscape designations on the site - located in flood zone 1 with no protected trees on or around the site.

The Principal Planning Officer set out details of the proposed access, the public rights of way and the location of the bus stops. She set out the heritage constraints surrounding the site and presented some views of the site from various boundary viewing points.

The Principal Planning Officer set out the proposed building heights and the average densities in the context of the density dwellings on the High Road and Poplar Close. She said that the average density on site was 27 dwellings per hectare. Members were shown the location of SuDS features, the access road, the cycle and footways, allotment space, public open space and play spaces.

The Principal Planning Officer reminded Members that the application was in outline form for the principle of the proposed development and the access. She set out the proposed improvements to the High Road and provided some illustrative details of what was envisaged for the site.

Members were advised of the proposed upgrades to bus stops and upgrades to the existing footpaths. The Principal Planning Officer said that all of the improvements were included in the conditions and as part of the Section 106 legal agreement.

The Principal Planning Officer reminded Members that as the council could not currently demonstrate a 5-year supply of housing, this application should be determined under paragraph 11 of the NPPF. Members were referred to paragraph 10 of the report, and the planning balancing exercise concludes that the adverse effects of granting planning permission would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

The Principal Planning Officer said that applying the NPPF presumption in favour of sustainable development, it was recommended that planning permission is granted subject to the conditions and obligations within the Section 106 legal agreement.

Kim Saban addressed the committee in objection to the application. Richard Martin addressed the committee in support of the application. He was asked questions by the committee.

Jacqueline Veater addressed the committee on behalf of Thundridge Parish Council. She was asked questions by the committee.

Members asked for some clarity in terms of the access linking the development to the existing community. The Principal Planning Officer said  ...  view the full minutes text for item 409.

RESOLVED – that the following reports be noted:

(A)       Appeals against refusal of planning permission / non-determination;

(B)              Planning Appeals lodged;

(C)              Planning Performance Information.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

There was no urgent business.

If Part II business is notified and the procedures set out in the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 have been complied with, the Chairman will move: - That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of item XX on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph XX of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

There was no urgent part two business.