Synopsis: In March 2021 St Albans District Council (SADC) Planning Enforcement opened a case concerning floodlighting installed at Shafford Fields, which the council considered to be unauthorised development – the site being subject to clear pre-existing conditions that prohibited the installation of external lighting and overnight parking of vehicles.

A retrospective planning application (ref 5/2022/2479) was subsequently submitted which was “called-in” to the SADC Planning (Development Management) Committee by three district councillors, concerned about the practicality and effectiveness of any retrofitted conditions.

I would ask the committee to refuse the application on the grounds it contravenes Policy 1 (green belt), Policy 80 (floodlighting) and Policy 104 (landscape conservation in Chidwickbury) of the 1994 Local Plan

Planning Committee Cllr member written comment 20/05/23

The St Albans Planning Committee considered the application on Monday 27th Nov 2023. The application was approved only after the following strict conditions were agreed to be set.

• The use of the lights hereby permitted shall be limited to Monday to Friday between the hours of 06:30 to 08:00 and 16:30 to 18:00 and shall only be operational during the late autumn/winter months of October, November, December, January, and February.
• Within one month of the date of this decision, a landscape plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The landscape plans shall include the planting of a laurel hedge around the outside of the manege fencing, It shall be of at least the existing fence height to screen the existing manege. Landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting season following approval of the details. If within five years of the date of planting any plant dies or is removed, it shall be replaced in accordance with the approved details.
• Within three months of the date of this decision; all lamps hereby approved shall be tilted horizontally; downward directors and cowling shall be installed in accordance with details that shall have been first submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and a timer shall be installed to limit the hours of use to those approved in condition 4. Thereafter these details shall be retained in accordance with the approved details.

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