Approval for 115 new homes south of Lower Stondon

The housing will be built on “arable farmland” south of Lower Stondon, Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee heard.

Applicant Rainier Developments Limited was granted planning permission to build up to 85 homes on land west of Bedford Road last November.

Its latest outline proposals are for up to 115 properties on a site outside the village settlement envelope, with access from Bedford Road, said CBC principal planning officer Stuart Robinson.

“It would appear to form a logical extension to the development boundary, but means the loss of agricultural land.”

Stondon Parish Council clerk James Stirling said: “I don’t think the report has satisfactorily justified the reasons for recommending approval.

“We’ve serious concerns about the overall lack of holistic planning for all sites in the Stondon area, including the impact of RAF Henlow closure and redevelopment.”

He warned of “excessive growth in Stondon, which has doubled in size since 2016”.

Mr Sterling called for the 30mph zone to be extended towards Hitchin to improve the safety of residents , and for a footbridge over a “quite deep” stream.

All the responses from the neighbours consulted were objecting, according to local resident David Merry.

He mentioned 2,000 homes coming in with the RAF Henlow closure, saying: “We would be changing Stondon from a village into a town.

“The site is in a low lying dip, which has seen extensive flooding in the past few years.”

Conservative Arlesey councillor Richard Wenham noted the parish councils of Stotfold, Henlow and Ickleford in north Herts objected.

Other more sustainable areas were identified for the CBC Local Plan in Stondon, which “has seen massive development in the last few years”, he said.

“This is a ridiculous quantity of growth to expect this village to absorb, without considering the impact of RAF Henlow.

“I have huge concerns about road safety in this location.

“The ideal situation is a roundabout which would have provided traffic calming right at the entrance to the village.”

The nearby Barratt Homes scheme in north Hertfordshire was objected to by CBC as moving development into the open countryside, according to Conservative Arlesey councillor David Shelvey.

“Now we’re saying we’re happy to move further into the countryside on the other side of the road,” he said.

“This almost proves the point that if you did some development on the North Herts side would we continue towards Hitchin?”

Paul Vickery, on behalf of the applicant, said the scheme completes the southern gateway into the village.

“It includes 35 per cent affordable housing, around 40 homes, and a play area.

“A ghost right turn lane has been agreed with highways officers as the preferred site access from Bedford Road.”

Planning contributions total more than £1.75m and include sports and allotment provision.

CBC’s principal highways officer Rob Porter referred to “no accident history in this area”, while “a roundabout wouldn’t be proposed until the flows on the road are about 18,000 vehicles a day”.

Conservative Dunstable Watling councillor Nigel Young said: “We’ve been hearing from ward members there should be a pedestrian refuge at the very least.

“I think the speed limit should be reduced to 30mph. Do what’s best for the residents of Stondon.”

Independent Linslade councillor Victoria Harvey suggested the south is protected from housing extensions by Green Belt.

But “in the north it seems you can just have ad hoc developments outside village settlement envelopes”, she explained.

Councillors approved the plans with seven votes in favour, two against and three abstentions.