Two three-bedroom homes at The Anchor, Bourne End, Hemel Hempstead

What was proposed

The application proposed retaining the public house and building two three-bedroom homes beside it, with parking, landscaping and a reconfigured beer garden and car park.

“24/01805/FUL Retention of existing public house and construction of two three- bedroom dwellings (Use Class C3) on land to the side of the existing public house (Sui Generis) utilising existing access off Bourne End Lane, with associated parking, hard and soft landscaping, including the reconfiguration of the public house beer garden and car park.”

“In order to facilitate these works, the layout of the public house beer garden and car park would be reconfigured, and new soft landscaping would be introduced. No changes or alterations would be made to the existing Grade II Listed Building the Anchor as part of this application.”

Officer report

The site

The site contains a Grade II listed public house, beer garden and parking area on a corner plot within the Metropolitan Green Belt.

“The application site comprises Grade II Listed Building the Anchor, (a public house under sui generis use), and its associated beer garden and parking area, situated on a corner plot where roads London Road and Bourne End Lane meet in Bourne End. The Anchor fronts London Road, comprising a historic timber frame, white painted brick construction, a clay tile roof, and mullion casement windows with black painted outer frames and lintels.”

“The site falls within the Metropolitan Green Belt and is within a Former Lane use risk zone for ground contamination.”

Officer report

Planning history

An associated listed-building application was returned, while earlier fire-safety works to the public house were granted in 2015.

“24/02194/LBC - Retention of existing public house and construction of two three-bedroom dwellings (Use Class C3) on land to the side of the existing public house (Sui Generis) utilising existing access off Bourne End Lane, with associated parking, hard and soft landscaping, including the reconfiguration of the public house beer garden and car park. APPLICATION RETURNED”

“4/01852/15/LBC - Works to comply with Hertfordshire fire & rescue service requirements. Retain and treat existing oak panelling to the stairs. Retain and treat existing oak door to ground floor new fire doors to ground floor corridor GRANTED - 15th June 2015”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to habitats assessment, mitigation payments and conditions, finding the scheme acceptable in principle and on most planning issues.

“That planning permission be DELEGATED with a view to APPROVAL subject to the completion of an appropriate assessment in accordance with article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive and securing a mitigation package to avoid any further significant effects on the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (“SAC”) through financial contributions secured by legal agreement and the imposition of conditions set out in Section 11.”

“Given everything above, the proposal complies with the National Planning Policy Framework (2024), Policies CS5, CS8, CS11, CS12, CS27, CS29, CS32 and CS35 of the Dacorum Borough Core Strategy (2013), Saved Appendix 3 of the Dacorum Borough Local Plan (2004), the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and the Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document (2020).”

Officer report

Main planning concerns

Officers identified lower-level heritage harm but considered it outweighed by housing, economic and landscaping benefits, with no unacceptable residential or highway impacts.

“An Economic Viability Report by Fleurets, (dated 29th August 2025) has been submitted in support of the application to address the Council’s concerns with respect to the proposals’ impact on the viability of the pub.”

“Given that the level of heritage harm generated by the development is identified as being at the lowest level, cumulatively, it is felt that these public benefits are sufficient to outweigh the identified harm to designated heritage asset the Anchor.”

Officer report

Residents’ views

Most respondents objected, citing Green Belt harm, noise, cramped design, insufficient parking, highway concerns, ecology, heritage and risks to the pub’s viability.

“Insufficient parking would be retained for the existing Public House; • Displaced cars will increase parking stress along Bourne End Lane, generating highway/pedestrian safety concerns and restricting access; • The proposal would increase traffic and congestion and restrict visibility between Chalk Row and Watercress Lane and Bourne End Lane; • Displaced cars parked on the street could restrict emergency access to and from the site; and • The resultant car park would not…”

“Economical concerns – the proposal will have a detrimental impact on the viability of the existing pub and the proposal would result in the loss of a community asset; • The Existing Car Park Plan does not accurately reflect the existing car parking situation for the pub on the ground; • The proposal would prevent opportunities to support the growth and viability of the existing public house coming forwards – such as mobile street food vendors;”

Officer report

Who spoke

The case officer introduced the application; three people spoke against it and one person spoke in support.

Members’ decision-making

Members proposed approval, but the motion did not secure a majority, so a further motion was made to overturn the recommendation and refuse.

“It was proposed by Councillor Guest and seconded by Councillor Jankowski to DELEGATE with a view to APPROVAL.”

“Having there been no majority to grant the application It was proposed by Councillor Anderson and seconded by Councillor Walker to overturn the officer’s recommendation and REFUSE the application.”

Minutes

Reasons for refusal

Members found that public benefits did not outweigh heritage harm and identified risks to the pub’s viability, appearance and future residents’ amenity.

“1) The application site comprises Grade II Listed Building, The Anchor, (a public house under sui generis use), and its associated beer garden and parking area. The combination of the massing of the two new units proposed and the recently built new housing opposite on Chalk row, jointly serve to change the character of the area adjacent to the Heritage Asset and provide a sense of enclosure to this corner the site.”

“2) The proposed development as a result of the significant reduction in parking that would be available for the public house use, taken together with the risk of conflict with future residents and difficulties in servicing the site arising from the proposals, would compromise the economic ability of the premises to sustain its use as a public house in the future, adversely impacting the viable use of this heritage asset.”

Minutes