Call for Sites Form

Form ID: 3415

Other (please specify)

Agent for Agent.

Yes

Land adjacent Wootton Upper School, Wootton

Map 1233
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Agricultural with adjoining woodland. Gross Site Area: c.16.3ha (area proposed for development) + potential for c.100acres of woodland

Education and residential and church

Agricultural

Agricultural with residential beyond

Woodland

No

Housing

Nothing chosen

489

Family houses , Self-build/Custom build homes , Older people housing

No answer given

30dph

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

No answer given

No answer given

Nothing chosen

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

Suitable access is achievable

Site presently has agricultural access to public highway. The site benefits from its own access that could be upgraded and thus deliver an independent development, or it could be delivered in conjunction with the adjoining land owned by Bedford Borough Council (BBC) to the east (Site 306) with a new access to Cranfield Road.

Yes

No

No

No

250

239

No answer given

No answer given

2025

The site is in a sustainable location with access to local sustainable transport methods including local bus services, as well as being within a practical commutable distance of schools and employment opportunities. Due to the significant land ownership, there is the potential to deliver biodiversity improvements and a large new community woodland on land as put forward and adjoining within the same land ownership. The development would also have the potential to deliver low or zero carbon homes in line with emerging national and local planning policy.

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16.36

Above

Site not in accordance with the emerging development strategy

Exclude from further assessment

Nothing chosen

Nothing chosen

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

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

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

x The site is within 10 minutes’ walk of a bus stop with an infrequent bus service (less frequent than hourly each day) which enables travel 8am6pm Monday to Friday to a major employer.

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

x The site is within or adjoining a site of nature conservation importance

x Protected species could be affected.

? Uncertain or insufficient information

+ The site is within or adjoining the green infrastructure opportunity network and able to enhance the network.

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

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

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

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

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

x The site is within 10 minutes’ walk of a bus stop with an infrequent bus service (less frequent than hourly each day) which enables travel 8am6pm Monday to Friday to a major employer.

x The proposal has the potential to cause harm to heritage assets. This harm may range from low to high. There may be options to avoid, reduce or mitigate this harm and where sites have not been ruled out altogether for other reasons, further assessment will be undertaken to more fully explore impacts on significance and options for harm reduction and mitigation. This further assessment may ultimately lead to the conclusion that the site should not be allocated.

0 Proposal is not employment related.

0 Proposal does not include a main town centre use.

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

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

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

+ The site adjoins a defined settlement policy area or the built form of a small settlement.

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

? The classification of the site is not known or it is not clear whether is classified as grade 3a or 3b.

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

+ 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).

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

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

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

0 Neutral.

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

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

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

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

x The site is within 10 minutes’ walk of a bus stop with an infrequent bus service (less frequent than hourly each day) which enables travel 8am6pm Monday to Friday to a major employer.

? Potential access requiring mitigation

? Potential capacity problem requiring mitigation

There is existing access via a farm track north towards Wootton Upper School which does have space to be widened and include a pavement, however a purpose-built access road east to Cranfield Road would be a better option. There is some moderate traffic in the area and a development of this scale could cause a significant impact. The nearest bus stop using the proposed access is 1.1km away where the 53 bus gives a service three times per hour to Bedford. However, if a separate pedestrian/cycle access was provided in the NE corner of the site, the nearest stop would be 350m with the same services. There is no current pedestrian connectivity however both proposed access points have scope to include sufficient pavements connecting to the local area. There is no cycle connectivity however there would be space for a shared path alongside any access road, and the existing pavement on Cranfield Road could be easily upgraded to a shared path. A Transport Assessment would be required, given the scale of the development proposed and the existing congestion in the vicinity. Include a dedicated pedestrian/cyclist access point in the NE corner of the site connecting to Jenkyn Road to give far quicker connection to local facilities. Include a shared pedestrian/cycle path alongside the site access road and consider re-designating the existing pavement on Cranfield Road as a shared path.

Nothing chosen

No answer given

Site does not fall within the boundary of a MSA.

The site has been excluded from further assessment at Stage 1 because its location is not in accordance with the development strategy.