BRE Campus

Following a recovered appeal, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (SoS) granted outline planning permission for the demolition of existing buildings on a rundown part of BRE’s Watford campus in the London Metropolitan Green Belt (GB) and their replacement by up to 100 new dwellings, associated facilities and a new access road.

The complex planning application, in which Philip had been closely involved, had been refused permission by the St Albans City and District Council as the site was not considered to perform well in sustainability terms due to its location, means of access and failure to integrate into the surrounding area, as well as the proposal’s impact on local schools and health services.

Philip was responsible for managing the planning appeal, instructing and working with Queen’s Counsel and other team members, advising on and coordinating specialist inputs and giving evidence at the 3-day public inquiry. He also prepared an initial draft of the planning obligation that set out a range of developer contributions and undertakings on public benefits. 

The SoS had recovered the appeal for his own decision as the proposal involved significant development within the GB. However, in accepting his inspector’s recommendation to allow the appeal, the SoS agreed that it had been demonstrated that the proposal was not inappropriate development in the GB, or harmful to it. He also agreed that the proposal would be a sustainable development and would contribute to an identified unmet housing need within the District, as well as providing much needed affordable housing.

The site was later developed by Crest Nicholson broadly in keeping with the design principles set out in the illustrative masterplan prepared by the project architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) that accompanied the outline application, but with a different means of access, via The Kestrels. It is now known as Lancaster Grange.   

Image credit: FCBS