Amazon warehouse plan for Biggleswade could create 2,300 jobs

A planning application has been submitted by the world’s largest online retailer to Central Bedfordshire Council for the premises on the town’s Stratton Business Park, said Conservative Biggleswade East councillor Grant Fage on social media.

These employment opportunities would cover a range of roles, he posted on Facebook. “The warehouse would be accompanied by three extra units, while the site is expected to include 166,000sqm of floor space.

“The company’s proposals include changes to the A1 south roundabout, including traffic lights on the approaches from both north and south.

“This is a very complicated application and will have huge impacts on Biggleswade, positively in terms of job creation but negatively for our road network.

“In the recent Central Bedfordshire Local Plan consultation, this site was referenced both in my response and that of Biggleswade Town Council, as being a site that could support commercial development in certain circumstances.

“Having seen this application, I’ve no objection but would ask that the following commitments are honoured in full:

• the extensive landscaping to ensure adherence with the Neighbourhood Plan policy BPD1 and its interpretation;
• the active travel improvements, with cycle access via Market Garden Road and associated cycle parking at all industrial units;
• the sustainable transport measures, notably the commitments to a daily shuttle from outside Unit 14 to Biggleswade Railway Station;
• and the rights of way adjustments, particularly including the new linkages around the south-eastern side of the site to ensure the rural nature of the wider landscape is respected.

“The reconfiguration of the A1 roundabout is needed, but it’s sub-optimal to have traffic signals.”

Councillor Fage wondered if National Highways could be asked to confirm “whether traffic lights are absolutely necessary” on both the northern and southern approaches.

“We need that independent view,” he explained. “If National Highways says traffic signals are required, I hope it highlights the desperate state of the A1 in Biggleswade.

“We’d have the only traffic lights on the entire A1 stretch between South Mimms and Scotland. This didn’t work for the Black Cat roundabout and it feels like a step backwards.

“The queues at Pegasus Drive are very challenging now for drivers exiting Stratton Business Park. Traffic lights east of the Lidl mini-roundabout makes sense, although further efforts are needed to remove bottle necks.

“That would include as cars exit Lidl, while yellow lines are needed along both sides of Lancaster Way.”

Reacting to his post, Biggleswade town councillor Mark Knight warned: “Installing (traffic) lights on the A1 roundabout is madness.

“Planners are repeating the history of short-term thinking that was used for decades at the Black Cat roundabout.”

Amazon made a shock announcement in January to close its Marston Gate centre at Ridgmont, opting for a new site in Northampton.

Almost 600 employees were based at the company’s first UK site, and it was one of Central Bedfordshire’s biggest employers since opening in 1999.

Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee is expected to consider the project in due course.