Two access roads approved for site of 1,500 new homes east of Biggleswade

Applicant UK Regeneration Limited’s proposals had the backing of the town council, although there were 163 representations submitted.

“The proposals would result in a significant loss of open countryside,” according to a report to Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee.

“It would cause harm to the character and appearance of the area,” said the report.

The company was granted planning permission in February 2019 for a 263-acre site linked to housing development in the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan.

It includes up to five acres of commercial development, 12.5 acres of primary school development, ten acres of other leisure and community development, and 150 acres of open space, allotments and a country park.

The difference in the two applications is the access arrangements, planning officer Nik Smith told the committee.

The previous scheme had two access points on Baden Powell Way, he explained.

“This has a junction from further south along that road and one from Dunton Lane.

“These access arrangements would cause serious harm to the character and appearance of the area.”

Mayor of Biggleswade Madeline Russell said: “East Bedfordshire is facing huge growth.

“The town council believes any further development should be to the east rather than north or south.

“This policy protects our open spaces as much as possible.

“A development of this site needs multiple accesses to allow traffic dispersal over a wider area.

“The road on to Baden Powell Way supports the Housing Infrastructure Fund finance by providing access for a new secondary school on CBC land.

“And the Dunton Lane access is a suitable option for the alternative transport system for the town, for which both CBC and the developer have conducted studies.”

Independent Biggleswade South councillor Hayley Whitaker described the project’s impact on the town as “huge”, saying: “The character of the area will be changed forever.

“We’ll lose a significant amount of green space, trees and hedgerows.

“I think the town council very much stands alone in its view.”

Conservative Biggleswade North councillor Steve Watkins said: “Development must be to the east of the town, which is the most sustainable area for it.”

Conservative councillor Mark Foster, who also sits on the town council, said: “I view the Dunton Lane access as a concern.

“But overall my view is this issue shouldn’t affect the application.”

UK Regeneration chief operating officer Jackie Sadek: “We’ve crafted a scheme which delivers a thriving new village east of Biggleswade.

“It will bring new homes and investment into the town centre, as well as open up a fabulous country park.

“Refusal means you’re opening the door to precisely the kind of dysfunctional sprawling development you’ve all railed against.

“There are no plans to widen the road and we will plant a lot more trees.”

A move to refuse the plans was narrowly defeated by seven votes to six, and councillors then agreed it with seven votes in favour, five against and one abstention.

The decision is subject to a referral to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, once planning conditions have been agreed by CBC officers