39 The Ridgeway Northaw EN6 4BD Data via plota.co.uk

6/2026/1125/PN8 - Class A – enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse - PRIOR APPROVAL Approved

Proposal

Prior approval for the erection of a single storey rear extensions measuring 8m in depth, 4m in height and 3m to the eaves Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

Received
29 Jun 2026
Approved
3 Sept 2026

Approved on 3 Sept 2026 · Delegated · Last checked 7 Sept 2026

Site constraints 5

Green belt: London
Inappropriate development needs very special circumstances.
Green belt policy allows a short list of exceptions, such as limited extensions and replacement buildings. Anything else needs very special circumstances that clearly outweigh the harm.
Local nature reserve 120 m away: Northaw Great Wood Country Park
Work nearby can need a habitats assessment.
Harm to a protected site is only accepted where there is no alternative and an overriding public interest.
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
SSSI 120 m away: Northaw Great Wood SSSI
Natural England may need consulting, depending on what is proposed.
Sites of special scientific interest are the best wildlife and geological sites in the country. Development likely to harm one is rarely permitted.
Also on the record
Inside the Cuffley built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · No listed building at the site · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 11 September 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Application type
Class A – enlargement, improvement or other alteration of a dwellinghouse - PRIOR APPROVAL
Postcode
EN6 4BD
Received
29 Jun 2026
Validated
29 Jun 2026
Parish
Northaw and Cuffley
Case officer
Show
Decision
Prior Approval Required and Granted
Decision date
3 Sept 2026
Decision level
Delegated
Applicant
Show

How this decision compares

Decided in 66 days from validation, 10 days slower than Welwyn Hatfield's median of 56 for extensions. Approved, as 87% of extensions here are.

68%decided within 8 weeks
87%approved
636decided in the last year

Plota live figures for extensions decided by Welwyn Hatfield in the last twelve months, from validation. Welwyn Hatfield decision record →

Public comments

3comments received
1 objecting2 neutral

33% object · below the UK average of 75%

2 neighbours consulted · Last counted 7 Sept 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Comments by
2 Sept 2026
Welwyn Hatfield
Planning Authority Score
2.1/10
Poor
#272 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Welwyn Hatfield is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #224 out of 296. 50% of applications have the time limit extended, above the 41% national average. Householder applications are slightly less likely to be approved here (86%) than the national average (90%).

Slower than most councils
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Welwyn Hatfield decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #200 of 296
86%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #246 of 296
53%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #224 of 296
50%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #229 of 296
84%
Minor dwellings approved
63 decided (1-9 homes)
83%
Major dwellings approved
12 decided (10+ homes)
73%
Change of use approved
22 decided
633
Total decisions
87 refused in the year to March 2026