FLITWICK TOWN COUNCIL OBJECTS TO PLANNING APPLICATION FOR LAND SOUTH OF STEPPINGLEY ROAD

At last night’s Town Council meeting, Members unanimously agreed to object to the planning application for 200 homes on land south of Steppingley Road on several grounds including:

• The development does not satisfy the tests of presumption in favour of sustainable development as set out in Paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework, owing to the matters of which it is contrary to the Local Plan.

• The development does not maintain clear boundaries between the site and the north-western and south-western boundaries to protect open countryside views, and is therefore contrary to Policy HA1 of the Local Plan.

• An up-to-date, comprehensive ecological assessment has not been undertaken in support of this application, making this application contrary to Policies EE3 and HA1 of the Local Plan.

• Robust consideration of the cumulative highway impacts of planned growth in Flitwick has not been made in the Transport Assessment, making the application contrary to Policy T1 of the Local Plan.

• The scheme has not demonstrated that it is of a valuable public benefit that overrides the need to protect Grade 2 Agricultural Land, making the application contrary to Policy DC5 of the Local Plan.

• Population growth in Central Bedfordshire in excess of that forecast in the Local Plan means that this application is premature in advance of a review of the Local Plan, which is required as part of Policy SP1a of the Local Plan.

The Town Council also has a number of concerns about the impacts of the development on local services. It also considers that the development is unsustainable given the current and planned infrastructure, and accordingly may be contrary to National Planning Policy Framework Guidance on sustainable development.

Read the full report presented at the Town Council meeting> http://bit.ly/3UX7Dao

Flitwick Town Council is a consultee in the planning process and the final decision on the planning application will be made by Central Bedfordshire Council. ,Cllr James Gleave, Chairman of the Planning Improvement Working Group, will be speaking against the application on behalf of the Town Council when it is considered by Central Bedfordshire Council’s Development Management Committee (DMC).

If you want to share your views on the development, the consultation ends on 25th November. You can view and comment on the application using the direct link: > https://bit.ly/3Fnn8nE

In May, the Town Council formed the new Planning Improvement Working Group who are responsible for making recommendations to the Town Council on major planning applications.

The group focus on engaging with Central Bedfordshire Council, residents and developers to try to influence plans before they reach an advanced stage. By getting involved in the planning process at an early stage the group aim to reduce any impact and to ensure that the community gets the maximum benefit from planned developments. You can find out more about their work on the planning page of our website.