New homes adjacent to a noisy industry

On Wednesday (November 9) Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee granted outline planning permission for a residential development on the former Meller Beauty site in Sunderland Road, Sandy.

The site had already been allocated within Central Bedfordshire Council’s Site Allocations DPD for residential development.

The application was made by Castletown (General Partners III). A noise impact assessment states that the level will be acceptable and that the design layout and other measures such as fencing will negate any problems.

But Richard Raper, planning consultant for Marshalls, the company adjacent to the site, raised concerns about noise. He said: “Marshalls wants to be a good neighbour but there would be untold conflicts.”

Councillor Matthews said: “I would support the need to have a design to mitigate the effect of noise from Marshalls.

“It’s allocated on the DPD and I don’t think we have any grounds for refusing it. We have approved as a council that this site is suitable for residential homes.”

The council approved the application with 10 councillors voting for approval and seven against but agreed that the future detailed application would be brought before the committee for full discussion.

To read the full story see the Biggleswade Chronicle of Friday, November 11.