38 Vesta Avenue St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 2Pf

1. 23 Dec 2016

   Received by St Albans

2. 16 Jan 2017

   Validated

   Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

3. 22 Feb 2017

   Decision issued: Certificate of Lawfulness Approved

4. 21 Aug 2026

   Added to PlanIndex

Permission has been granted, usually subject to conditions listed on the decision notice, some of which must be discharged before work starts. The decision notice on the council portal sets out exactly what was approved.

Work must normally begin within three years of the decision or the permission lapses. Neighbours cannot appeal a grant; challenging one means judicial review of how the decision was made, within tight time limits.

A lawful development certificate is a legal determination, not a planning judgement. It asks the council to confirm either that existing use or works are lawful, often through the passage of time, or that a proposal would not need planning permission at all. The applicant must prove the facts; the merits of the scheme are not considered.

More on lawful development applications in our guide

• 39 Watling Street St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 2Py

  5/2026/0626 Submitted 27 Mar 2026 123m away

  Erection of garage

  Decided Householder 13 docs
  Domestic

• 9/10 The Close Wilshere Avenue Al1 2Rh

  TP/2017/0472 Submitted 12 Sep 2017 131m away

  Fell Horse Chestnut and Maple rear of 9-10 The Close.

  Granted Trees 2 docs

• 64 Tavistock Avenue St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 2Nj

  5/2026/1157 Submitted 15 Jun 2026 166m away

  Proposed roof alteration to create habitable use with rear dormer window

  Decided Loft or dormer Windows or glazing 7 docs

• 15 Tavistock Avenue St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 2Nq

  5/2016/3814 Submitted 21 Dec 2016 182m away

  Single storey rear extension with roof lantern, addition of rooflights to front, side and rear elevations, loft conversion with rear dormer window, alterations to front canopy, openings and raising of roof ridge to front elevation

  Decided Householder Extension Loft or dormer +1 7 docs
  Small domestic

• 49 Tavistock Avenue St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 2Nq

  5/2026/0354 Submitted 25 Feb 2026 182m away

  Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) - Proposed children's care home (Use Class C2) for up to 2 children with carer accommodation

  Granted Lawful development 10 docs

• 59 Tavistock Avenue St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 2Nq

  5/2016/1967 Submitted 26 Jun 2016 182m away

  Front porch and single storey rear extension with alterations to openings

  Decided Householder Extension 7 docs
  Small domestic

• 5/2026/1607 Decided

  5 Flavian Close St Albans Hertfordshire Al3 4Jx

  Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) - Construction of single storey rear extension with tiled lean to roof fitted with 3no. roof lights

  1 Sep 2026 Lawful development
• 5/2026/0951 Refused

  23 Clarence Road St Albans Hertfordshire Al1 4Np

  Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) - New single storey garden room and close boarded access gates

  15 May 2026 Lawful development
• 5/2026/1558 Granted

  31 Highfield Avenue Harpenden Hertfordshire Al5 5Ub

  Certificate of Lawfulness ( Proposed) - Proposed rear single-storey extension, side single-storey extension and removal of rear chimney stack

  20 Aug 2026 Lawful development
• 5/2026/0291 Refused

  66 Pondfield Crescent St Albans Hertfordshire Al4 9Pf

  Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) - Hip to gable and new dormer

  16 Feb 2026 Lawful development
• 5/2026/1252 Refused

  7 Palfrey Close St Albans Hertfordshire Al3 5Re

  Certificate of Lawfulness (proposed) - Single storey/ground floor extension to dining room, to extend as far as kitchen rear/outside wall across to party wall. Repositioning French windows to new rear of room, and repositioning downpipe and soak away in r

  30 Jun 2026 Lawful development