Policy information sourced from St Albans District Local Plan

13 Extension or Replacement of Dwellings in the Green Belt

Any extended or replacement dwelling shall be modest in scale and visually well integrated with its rural surroundings and shall not harm the ecology, natural beauty and amenity of the countryside or nearby dwellings.

  1. Extensions to houses in the Green Belt including garages or outbuildings may be permitted unless the scale or visual impact upon the building as originally constructed (or as existing at 1 July 1948 (1) if constructed before that date), would create a building of significantly larger or different character;
  2. Replacement of existing dwellings in the Green Belt or dwellings which have been demolished or destroyed will normally be permitted provided:
    • the new dwelling occupies the site of the original dwelling or is located as close to the original dwelling as possible. A condition will normally be imposed requiring the old dwelling to be demolished and the materials removed from the site. In special circumstances the Council may permit a replacement dwelling in a different position, if this would improve the visual openness of the countryside or achieve some other acknowledged planning objective;
    • evidence is given that a demolished or destroyed dwelling was occupied within three years preceding the application;
    • the new dwelling is similar in character and size to the existing, demolished or destroyed dwelling, plus any extension that could have been permitted under point (1) of this policy;
    • that the proposed dwelling is not a replacement for a temporary dwelling or a dwelling constructed of short-life materials (see Policy 18).

Furthermore, despite point (1) above, there will be a presumption against any extensions and incidental buildings being permitted.

Footnote

(1) 1 July 1948 was the date when planning control was introduced by the Town and Country Planning Act 1947.

For more information please see the Local Plan