Call for Sites Form

Form ID: 1338

Interest in land

Land owner

Specify 'other' land interest

No answer given

If you are not the landowner of the site you are submitting, do you have permission to submit?

N/A

Address of site

Land at Cardington Airfield, Bedford, MK42 0TF

Location plan

Show full map

Current use of land

Disused Airfield

Adjoining use to the north

Disused airfield and approved residential development

Adjoining use to the south

Agricultural/Ecological Enhancement

Adjoining use to the east

Disused airfield and Ecological Enhancement

Adjoining use to the west

Disused Airfield

Has the site been developed previously?

Yes

Proposed primary use

Housing

Other uses proposed

Nothing chosen

Number of dwellings proposed

Up to 350 homes

Type of housing proposed

Family houses , Flats

Other type of housing

No answer given

Density proposed

37 dph

Proposed tenures

Market housing - Owner occupied , Market housing - Private rented housing , Affordable Housing - Affordable rent , Affordable Housing - Shared ownership

Other tenures proposed

No answer given

Permanent or transit?

No answer given

Site privately owned?

Nothing chosen

Number of plots proposed

No answer given

Proposed type of employment

No answer given

Gross floorspace proposed

No answer given

Proposed type of retail

No answer given

Net floorspace proposed

No answer given

Gross floorspace proposed

No answer given

Number of hotel rooms proposed

No answer given

Amount of development proposed

No answer given

Description

No answer given

Can suitable access be achieved for the site?

Suitable access is achievable

Where will the site’s access point(s) be?

From the Bellway Homes site to the north of the Site - please see accompanying Vision Document for further information

Is the site available for development now?

Yes

Is the site currently subject to a planning application?

Is the site currently being marketed?

Are you aware of any issues that might affect the viability of developing the site?

1-5 years (2024/25-2028/29)

350

6-10 years (2029/30-2033/34)

No answer given

11-15 years (2034/35-2039/40)

No answer given

16+ years (2040 onwards)

No answer given

What year, post adoption of the plan, would you expect development to start on site?

2023/24

The council has declared a climate emergency. How the proposal will respond to climate change

The proposal incorporates on-site green infrastructure including the delivery of parkland/open space, street planting and SuDS to help to mitigate against flooding, reduce ambient heat and provide space and connections for biodiversity. Homes within the development will achieve at least a 19% reduction in carbon emissions below the Building Regulation requirement and incorporate renewable energy sources. All new residential development will achieve the higher water efficiency standard in the Building Regulations, subject to viability.

Attachments

File: 2) Shorts Park - Vision Document.pdf

File: 8) Shorts Park - LVA Appendices maps 1.pdf

File: 8) Shorts Park - LVA Appendices maps 2.pdf

File: Air quality

File: Ecology report

File: Heritage appraisal redacted

File: LVA

File: Noise and vibration

File: Flood risk and drainage redacted

File: Transport Technical Note

File: Heritage Impact Assmt

File: Mobility Hub Guide

File: Mobility Hub Offer

File: Mobility Hub Review

File: Historic England letter

File: Anemometer Siting Report redacted

Site size (ha)

15.00

Site size threshold

Above

Overriding constraint?

Site not in accordance with the emerging development strategy

Stage1 conclusion

Exclude from further assessment

Stage 2 Assessment of suitability, availability & achievability

Nothing chosen

Stage 2 conclusion

Nothing chosen

1a. Within or adjoining UAB SPA or built form of a small settlement

x The site is not within or adjoining the urban area or a defined settlement policy area, or within the built form of a small settlement

1b. Accessible on foot to a food store?

x A site accessibility score of 4 is recorded where 4 is 21 – 30 minutes’ walk.

1c. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

++ A site accessibility score of 8 is recorded where 8 is 0 – 10 minutes’ walk. , + A site accessibility score of 6 is recorded where 6 is 11 – 20 minutes’ walk.

1d. Accessible on foot or by bus to a major employer?

xx There is no public transport within 10 minutes’ walk to enable access to a major employer

1e. Outside, adjoining or within the air quality management area?

+ The site is not within or adjoining the air quality management area.

2a. Within or adjoining site of nature conservation importance

+ The site is not within or adjoining a site of nature conservation importance

2b. In an area where protected species are known or likely to exist?

x Protected species could be affected.

2c. Potentially able to achieve a net gain in biodiversity?

? Uncertain or insufficient information

2d. Able to link into the green infrastructure opportunity network?

0 The site is not within or adjoining the green infrastructure opportunity network or the impact of the proposal is neutral.

2e. Likely to impact on an area currently providing ecosystem services.

+ Opportunity area for 3 or more ecosystem services covers less than 25% of the site.

3a. Proposing a renewable energy scheme or extra energy efficiency standards?

0 No renewable energy generation scheme included and efficiency standards that meet normal standards.

3b. Within or adjoining the urban area, a defined settlement policy area or the built form of a small settlement?

x The site is not within or adjoining the urban area or a defined settlement policy area, or within the built form of a small settlement

3c. Accessible on foot to a food store?

x A site accessibility score of 4 is recorded where 4 is 21 – 30 minutes’ walk

3d. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

+ A site accessibility score of 6 is recorded where 6 is 11 – 20 minutes’ walk

3e. Accessible on foot or by bus to a major employer?

xx There is no public transport within 10 minutes’ walk to enable access to a major employer.

4a. Likely to impact on designated or nondesignated heritage assets or their settings? For more detailed assessment see HELAA supporting document. www.bedford.gov.uk/LocalPlan2040

xx The proposal has the potential to cause very high harm (which may reach the level of substantial harm) to a heritage asset. Development with this level of impact will be removed from further consideration unless it can be demonstrated that the harm can be avoided, mitigated or outweighed by substantial public benefits.

5a. Likely to increase future economic and employment opportunities?

0 Proposal is not employment related.

6a. Proposing a main town centre use in, on the edge or outside of a town centre?

0 Proposal does not include a main town centre use.

7a. Within 400m of an existing open space or proposing open space within it?

x The proposal does not include and is not within 400m walking distance of a publicly accessible open space.

7b. Within 800m of a sports facility or proposing a sports facility within it?

x The proposal does not include and is not within 800m of a publicly accessible sports facility

8a. Likely to have a significant adverse impact on the surrounding landscape?

? It is uncertain what effect the proposal is likely to have on the landscape / more information is required.

8b. Within the existing settlement form?

x The site is separated from a defined settlement policy area or the built form of a small settlement.

9a. On previously developed land?

x The site is not previously developed land as defined in the NPPF.

9b. On best and most versatile agricultural land ie grades, 1, 2 or 3a?

+ The site is not on best and most versatile agricultural land as defined in the NPPF.

10a. Within a groundwater source protection zone?

+ The site is not located in a source protection zone.

11a. At risk of flooding?

+ The site is within flood zone 1 (areas that have been shown to be at less than 0.1% chance of flooding in any year).

12a. Likely to provide a mix of housing, including affordable housing?

+ The site is likely to provide a mix of housing and include affordable housing.

12b. Able to address a particular housing need?

x The development will not meet identified needs eg elderly, care, travellers.

13a. Within 800m of a facility where cultural or social activities can be accessed?

x The site is not within 800m of a facility where cultural or social activities can be accessed.

14a. Likely to encourage social cohesion?

0 Neutral.

14b. Likely to help make the area safer? +

+ The development is likely to increase public surveillance or increase activity.

15a. Within or adjoining the urban area, a defined settlement policy area or the built form of a small settlement?

x The site is not within or adjoining the urban area or a defined settlement policy area, or within the built form of a small settlement

15b. Accessible on foot to a food store?

x A site accessibility score of 4 is recorded where 4 is 21 – 30 minutes’ walk.

15c. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

+ A site accessibility score of 6 is recorded where 6 is 11 – 20 minutes’ walk

15d. Accessible on foot or by bus to a major employer?

xx There is no public transport within 10 minutes’ walk to enable access to a major employer.

15e. Connect highway without constraint?

? Potential access requiring mitigation

15f. Highway or junction capacity issues

? Potential capacity problem requiring mitigation

Highway comments. For more detailed assessment see HELAA supporting document. www.bedford.gov.uk/LocalPlan2040

The site can be reached from Southhill Road and is located Southeast from the centre of Bedford. The access could happen from a local road which located north of the site. The nearest bus stop served by service 9A/9B is ‘Cardington Hangers’, which is located on the Site frontage approximately 150m south of Greycote roundabout in both directions. A shared use footway/cycleway is available between Shortstown and the village of Cotton End, on A600 High Road The proposed masterplan will focus on ‘placemaking’ to accommodate either extended or new viable bus services into the site via land to the rear of the listed Airship Sheds to serve a central bus stop that would be accessible by future residents within a 400m walking distance of dwellings and other facilities. For pedestrians and cyclists, connections will be made to the existing network of footways in Shortstown via the Spine Road to A600 and into New Cardington, and via a new ‘green corridor’ to Jackson’s Gate to the south west of the listed Airship Sheds. This combined route for pedestrians and cyclists would then link with the existing footway/cycleway along A600 and provide access further afield to New Cardington and Cotton End.

Contaminated Land

Nothing chosen

Environmental Health note

noise from cardington sheds

Mineral Safeguarding Area

Entire site falls within the boundary of a MSA.

Site assessment conclusions

The site has been excluded from further assessment at Stage 1 because its location is not in accordance with the development strategy. In addition the development is proposed within the adjacent flying field to Sheds 1 and 2 (grade II*) - an historically undeveloped area of land in which the large airships and aircraft stored in the hangars were manoeuvred - requiring a large area. The flying field therefore makes a key contribution to the significance of both listed buildings, and development within the flying field will remove much of their remaining open setting as well as impact on the historic understanding of both assets. Potential to cause very high less than substantial harm or substantial harm to their significance.