St Albans District Council is preparing to defend its decision not to grant planning permission for the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI), following Helioslough’s second planning application for the depot.
Helioslough lodged an appeal*1 with the Planning Inspectorate on 24th July, against St Albans City and District Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on 20th July*2. A letter will shortly be sent to all residents who took a part in the planning consultation informing them of the appeal.
The Planning Inspector has announced that the Inquiry will commence on the 24th November and is scheduled for 16 days. Once the Inquiry has taken place, the Planning Inspector will send a report to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will make the final decision.
Helioslough’s first planning application was considered by the District Council on 19th February 2007 and was refused. An appeal to the Planning Inspector, led to an Inquiry which commenced on 6th November 2007 and finished on 19th December 2007. The Planning Inspector subsequently sent a report to the Secretary of State who dismissed the appeal in October 2008.
Cllr Chris Brazier, portfolio holder for planning and conservation commented: “The District Council envisages that it may cost up to £400,000 to defend the appeal and has already set aside funds to cover this. The council’s team will defend the appeal with the same vigor we did last time, to ensure the reasons for refusal are defended robustly.”
John Young, Interim Head of Planning & Building Control at the District Council commented: “Residents may attend the planning inquiry and at the discretion of the Inspector may give their views or send them in writing. These will be disclosed to both parties involved in the appeal and may be read out at the Inquiry. The deadline for these to be received by the Secretary of State is 30th September 2009 at the latest. Letters should be sent to the address below quoting reference APP/B1930/A/09/2109433/NWF.”
Planning Inspectorate
Room 4/04 Kite,
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay.
Bristol BS1 6PN
John Young continued: “Alternatively residents can use the online appeals service which can be accessed from: www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs. Be aware that the Inspectorate may publish your comments on the internet and your name, address, telephone number and e-mail may be included, so if you include information about someone else, please ensure that you have their permission. More information relating to this is available on the Planning Portal.”
Details of the venue for the appeal and the arrangements will follow as soon as these have been finalised.
After completion of the Inquiry the Planning Inspector will send a report to the Secretary of State who will make the final decision. Anyone wanting a copy of the decision on the appeal should request this by writing to the Planning Inspector at the above address, quoting the reference number above.
Member contact:
Cllr Chris Brazier, portfolio holder for planning and conservation
St Albans City and District Council
01727 823586
Contact for the press:
Davina Mansell, information and communication officer
Tel: 01727 819316 E-mail: davina.mansell@stalbans.gov.uk
St Albans City and District Council
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Notes:
*1 To see the appellant’s grounds for appeal go to the home page of the council’s website and click on the Rail Freight link and see “grounds for appeal.”
*2 To see the reasons for refusal go to the home page of the council’s website and click on the Rail Freight link and see the “minutes of the planning referrals meeting 20th July 2009.”
The District Council’s role is to carry out the following duties:-
• To notify everyone who was consulted on the application, and those who subsequently commented on it, of the details of the planning appeal, (approximately nine thousand local residents), and to provide the contact details of the Inspectorate where comments can be sent.
• To prepare a document stating the Council’s case for refusal and submit this to the Inspectorate.
• To provide a Programme Officer to assist the Inspectorate by co-ordinating the documentation and liaising between the Inspectorate and other parties.
• To identify and provide a suitable venue for the length of the Inquiry. To present the Council’s case at the Inquiry.