Issue - meetings
25/01420/FP Highover Farm, Highover Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 0RQ
Meeting: 19/03/2026 - Planning Control Committee (Item 151)
151 25/01420/FP HIGHOVER FARM, HIGHOVER WAY, HITCHIN, HERTFORDSHIRE, SG4 0RQ 
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REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
MANAGER
Change of use and external alterations to former agricultural
buildings comprising grade II listed threshing barn and non-listed
courtyard buildings. Partial demolition of courtyard building
between proposed Units 1 and 2 to facilitate access. Single-storey
rear extension to facilitate Unit 10. Subdivision and two-storey
rear extension to farmhouse to form Units 11 and 12. Erection of
new building for two dwellings (Units 13 and 14). Partial
demolition and modify building for cycle storage to Units 2 to 8
inclusive. Erection of building to accommodate 2 car port spaces
for Unit 5 and refuse storage for Units 2-8 inclusive. Detached bin
enclosure / cycle store buildings for Units 9 - 14 inclusive. Hard
and soft landscaping in association with the provision of private
and communal space. Boundary treatment, installation of 14no. EV
charging points, installation of solar PV array on south facing
roof slopes of Unit 14 and both the cycle and refuse storage
buildings serving Units 2 -8 including provision of BNG area.
Additional documents:
Decision:
RESOLVED: That application 25/01420/FP be GRANTED planning permission, subject to:
a) The completion of a satisfactory legal agreement.
b) The applicant agreeing to extend the statutory period in order to complete the agreement as required.
c) Providing delegated powers to the Development and Conservation Manager to update conditions and informatives with minor amendments as required.
d) The conditions as set out in the report.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 1 hour 29 minutes 57 seconds
N.B. Councillor Nigel Mason declared an interest in this item, left the chamber and Councillor Emma Fernandes took over as Chair.
The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of Application 26/01420/FP and 25/01383/LBC accompanied by a visual presentation consisting of plans and photographs.
The following Members asked questions:
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Claire Strong
· Councillor Louise Peace
· Councillor Bryony May
· Councillor Mick Debenham
In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that:
· The access to this site was connected to the larger HT1 site, the highway comes straight up to the access road to the site, but was currently untarmacked. This road would curve in to the farmyard at a more logical angle.
· The new active travel corridor would carry on straight HT1.
· There was enough space for 42 waste bins or there was an option for the larger euro bins. If occupants subscribe to the garden waste bin then that would be kept in their gardens.
· Units 3-8 would all have access to the shared bin store, and other properties would have access to smaller bin stores on their property.
· There was sufficient space provided for the refuse vehicles to turn.
· This site was completely separated from the HT1 site and should be considered completely separately.
· The site does not provide any affordable housing but a £493,000 commuted sum toward affordable housing would be provided.
· Each dwelling had its own garden; there was no other green spaces on the site other than the Biodiversity Net Gain area. The Threshing Barn Green would be next to the site.
· All the inside barn beaming will stay and be preserved while the outside of the barn will be re-cladded.
The Chair invited the Member Advocate Objector, Councillor Daniel Wright-Mason to speak against the application. Councillor Wright-Mason thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the following:
· He was here to not to object but to raise a number of points on behalf of residents living near the planned development.
· Flooding and drainage were issues in relation to existing conditions on the access road, as well as how water behaved on the site.
· There was significant flooding in Hitchin including Woolgrove Road over a year ago, which had led to residents being more aware of the risk of flooding. This has led to questions about this site and the larger Hive farm site and how surface water would be managed.
· He asked Members to consider the lead flood authorities final position, how the proposed drainage approach responds to local ground conditions and how this scheme fitted in the wider drainage strategy.
There were no points of clarification from Members.
The Chair thanked Councillor Wright-Mason for his presentation and invited the Applicants agent, Mr Ian Coward to speak in support of the application. Mr Coward thanked the Chair for the opportunity to speak and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, and highlighted the ... view the full minutes text for item 151