Call for Sites Form

Form ID: 703

Interest in land

Land owner

Specify 'other' land interest

Please Contact Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

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

Yes

Address of site

Radwell Lakes. Radwell Bedford MK43 7HT. 135 ha

Location plan

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Current use of land

Part of the land has agricultural buildings present with the majority of land being agricultural, open space and previous quarry use.

Adjoining use to the north

fields and industrial buildings.

Adjoining use to the south

Agricultural fields

Adjoining use to the east

Agricultural fields

Adjoining use to the west

Agricultural fields and the settlement of Radwell.

Has the site been developed previously?

Proposed primary use

All other types

Other uses proposed

Hotel , All other types

Number of dwellings proposed

No answer given

Type of housing proposed

Nothing chosen

Other type of housing

No answer given

Density proposed

No answer given

Proposed tenures

Other

Other tenures proposed

Hotel & All other types.

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

Mixed recreation.

Description

Wide ranging recreation use utilising the existing water bodies and surrounding land, which would provide for a mix of leisure activities such as angling, sailing and other water sports, horse riding, cycle trails and relative activities, golf and less formal pastimes and tourism.

Can suitable access be achieved for the site?

The current access is unsuitable/requires improvement

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

Principal access off Moor End Lane. Details of access will be proposed following full assessment and may be from up to 3 points.

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)

YES

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?

2025

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

Sustainability The site lies adjacent to the village of Radwell, whilst Radwell has a limited number of services, there are two bus stops located within the village on Felmersham Road which provide services to Bedford and the surrounding towns and villages where a range of services and facilities are available. This reduces the reliance on private transport. Some of the site has also been developed and therefore comprises previously developed land. Policy Compliance Policy 51S Climate Change Strategic Approach sets out the Council’s requirements to address climate change. The preamble to the policy advises that development will be expected to address both adaptation and mitigation through water and energy efficiency, appropriate layout, design and landscaping and the use of renewable energy. There is no reason why the site could not be developed to conform with policy standards in relation to design, layout and scale. The proposed development is primarily for leisure use therefore there would be a limited number of buildings constructed on site. Notwithstanding this, any buildings would be constructed in line with the latest energy standards and building regulations. The development will conform to the policies in regarding landscape, biodiversity retention and enhancement and renewable energy. Some of the site is located within Flood Zones 2 and 3, however the proposed development would utilise modern flood defence methods. Additionally, there will be no adverse impact on the River Protection Area or Area of Great Landscape Value.

Attachments

File: Covering letter redacted

Site size (ha)

141.9

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?

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

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

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.

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?

xx Protected species recorded on the site

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.

+ 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?

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?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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?

x The site is located within a source protection zone and the proposed use could harm water supplies eg because it is an industrial use

11a. At risk of flooding?

? Part of a site is within flood zone 2 or 3 but the area proposed for development is in flood zone 1.

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

0 Residential development not proposed.

12b. Able to address a particular housing need?

0 Residential development not proposed.

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?

+ The proposal is for or includes a community use or is likely to promote community collaboration and social interaction eg cultural, social, leisure and sporting uses.

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?

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

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

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.

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 is located east of Radwell village approximately 7.5 miles north of Bedford town centre. Access to the site off Moor End Lane is currently unsuitable for the size of the site and requires improvement. We note that the cover letter suggests that up to three potential accesses could provided subject to full assessment. The proposed area could cause significant congestion issues in Radwell village, especially on Moor End Lane. This could potentially be mitigated by providing direct access to the A6, which would require a bridge crossing the River Great Ouse, which could be feasible given the scale of the development. The closest bus stop located west in Radwell village approximately 750m of the site. There are no footways and cycleways serving the site. The potential access points need to specified - access via a new junction with the A6 and a bridge crossing the River Great Ouse, would likely be preferable for the scale of the site and to limit congestion issues in Radwell. The feasibility of this would need to be assessed. A Transport Asssessment would be needed to assess the impact of the development on the highway network, particularly along the Moor End Lane. Improvement of pedestrian access would be needed - provision of a footpath as well as potentially pedestrian and bicycle crossing facilities along Moor End Lane.

Contaminated Land

Nothing chosen

Environmental Health note

main noise concern is rail noise from the line adjacent to the site

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 the allocation of such uses is not in accordance with the development strategy. Proposals will be considered against criteria based policies.