Call for Sites Form

Form ID: 531

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

Odell Solar Park, Odell

Location plan

Show full map

Current use of land

Solar farm

Adjoining use to the north

Santa Pod Raceway

Adjoining use to the south

Agricultural

Adjoining use to the east

Agricultural

Adjoining use to the west

Santa Pod Raceway

Has the site been developed previously?

Yes

Proposed primary use

Housing

Other uses proposed

Housing , Employment , Retail , Hotel

Number of dwellings proposed

Up to 700 dwellings - not proposed should be fully developed - should be viewed in context of Sharnbrook Garden Village if this comes forward.

Type of housing proposed

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

Other type of housing

No answer given

Density proposed

15-25 dph

Proposed tenures

Market housing - Owner occupied , Market housing - Private rented housing

Other tenures proposed

affordable in accordance with policy

Permanent or transit?

No answer given

Site privately owned?

Nothing chosen

Number of plots proposed

No answer given

Proposed type of employment

TBC

Gross floorspace proposed

TBC

Proposed type of retail

No answer given

Net floorspace proposed

No answer given

Gross floorspace proposed

No answer given

Number of hotel rooms proposed

TBC

Amount of development proposed

No answer given

Description

No answer given

Can suitable access be achieved for the site?

The current access is unsuitable/requires improvement

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

The site is accessed at present via the existing airfield road/existing farm tracks. The road infrastructure proposed for the Sharnbrook Garden Village appears to include an upgraded access route which would connect directly with the site. Therefore, development of the land, which is only submitted within the context of the adjacent proposals, could be served by any new and upgraded highways.

Is the site available for development now?

Don't know

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)

TBC

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

TBC

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

TBC

16+ years (2040 onwards)

TBC

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

Subject to wider Garden Village

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

Any development proposals would be designed in accordance with best practice.

Attachments

File: Covering letter redacted

Site size (ha)

28.55

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?

xx A site accessibility score of 0 is recorded where 0 is more than 30 minutes’ walk.

1c. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

xx A site accessibility score of 0 is recorded where 0 is more than 30 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

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

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

? Uncertain or insufficient information.

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

? Uncertain or insufficient information

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

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

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

x Opportunity area for 3 or more ecosystem services covers 25-50% 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?

xx A site accessibility score of 0 is recorded where 0 is more than 30 minutes’ walk.

3d. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

xx A site accessibility score of 0 is recorded where 0 is more than 30 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

0 The proposal appears to have no impact on heritage assets and their significance.

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

+ Proposal includes permanent economic and employment opportunities.

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

x Proposal includes a main town centre use in an out of centre location.

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?

xx The site is more than 0.5 miles 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 classification of the site is not known or it is not clear whether is classified as grade 3a or 3b.

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?

x The site is unlikely to provide a mix of housing and/or is unlikely to include affordable housing.

12b. Able to address a particular housing need?

+ The development will meet identified housing 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?

xx A site accessibility score of 0 is recorded where 0 is more than 30 minutes’ walk.

15c. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

xx A site accessibility score of 0 is recorded where 0 is more than 30 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?

x Serious access constraint wider impacts

15f. Highway or junction capacity issues

x Serious capacity constraint

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

The development is located on a current solar farm North of Odell, next to SantaPod Solar Farm and Raceway. Access is indicated to be provided onto a dirt track crossing the site. However, the developer indicates that the road infrastructure proposed for the Sharnbrook Garden Village appears to include an upgraded access route which would connect directly with their site. Therefore, development of the land, which is only submitted within the context of the adjacent proposals, would be served by any new and upgraded highways. There are no cycle paths or bus stops in the vicinity. A Transport Assessment should be developed to assess the impact of the development on the road network, including an assessment of the cumulative impact of this with the neighbouring Sharnbrook Garden Village. It should be ascertained that the upgraded access route would include appropriate pedestrian and cycle facilities. Bus connection should be provided to the site / vicinity. Site cannot be delivered in isolation without significant mitigations and access improvements.

Contaminated Land

Nothing chosen

Environmental Health note

adjacent to santa pod

Mineral Safeguarding Area

Site does not fall 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.