4 Spenser Road Harpenden Hertfordshire Al5 5Nn

1. 31 Mar 2026

   Received by St Albans

2. 1 Apr 2026

   Validated

   Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

3. 4 Jun 2026

   Decision issued: Certificate of Lawfulness Refused

4. 31 Aug 2026

   Added to PlanIndex

The council refused this application for the reasons set out on the decision notice, which the council portal holds in full. Only the applicant can appeal a refusal; the time limit runs from the decision date and is shorter for householder schemes.

Refusal does not prevent a fresh attempt. Applicants often address the reasons for refusal and resubmit, so a refused scheme is not necessarily the end of proposals for the site.

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

• 21 Spenser Road Harpenden Al5 5Nw

  TP/2017/0504 Submitted 3 Oct 2017 52m away

  Reduce crown of Yew in front garden by 1m. Fell dead Cherry in rear garden.

  Granted Trees 2 docs

• 41 Cowper Road Harpenden Hertfordshire Al5 5Nj

  TP/2025/0546 Submitted 16 Oct 2025 100m away

  T1 - Lime, remove to ground level as causing subsidence to 41 Cowper Road AL5 5NJ

  Granted Trees 2 docs

• 57A Cowper Road Harpenden Hertfordshire

  5/2017/2677 Submitted 21 Sep 2017 100m away

  Variation of Conditions 1 (approved plans), 2 (obscure glass), 3 (insertion of new windows) & 7 (hardstanding materials) to widen access road and hardstanding of planning permission 5/2015/3651 dated 08/08/2016 for Four semi-detached dwellings with associ

  Refused Windows or glazing 12 docs

• 43 Cowper Road Harpenden Hertfordshire Al5 5Nj

  TP/2026/0410 Submitted 25 Aug 2026 100m away

  Rear left corner of the garden. Holly tree. Remove tree completely.

  Decided Trees

• 55 Cowper Road Harpenden Hertfordshire Al5 5Nj

  5/2026/0444 Submitted 9 Mar 2026 100m away

  Demolition of existing conservatory and construction of single storey rear extension and part side wrap around

  Decided Householder Extension Demolition 15 docs
  Small domestic

• 14 Gilpin Green Harpenden Hertfordshire Al5 5Nr

  5/2017/2575 Submitted 10 Sep 2017 123m away

  Non Material Amendment - Removal of window from front elevation and centralisation of front door to planning permission 5/2017/1375 dated 30/06/2017 for Single storey front, side and rear extensions, rear patio, concrete paving for additional parking spac

  Granted Amendments Extension Windows or glazing 4 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