Call for Sites Form

Form ID: 855

Interest in land

Other (please specify)

Specify 'other' land interest

Please contact the Agent:

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

Yes

Address of site

Land West of Balls Lane, Willington 14 ha

Location plan

Show full map

Current use of land

Vacant

Adjoining use to the north

Residential

Adjoining use to the south

Bound by Bedford Road beyond which is residential development

Adjoining use to the east

Balls Lane and agricultural fields, beyond which is residential development

Adjoining use to the west

Hanson concrete factory

Has the site been developed previously?

Proposed primary use

Housing

Other uses proposed

Housing

Number of dwellings proposed

150

Type of housing proposed

Family houses , Flats

Other type of housing

No answer given

Density proposed

Net- 30-35 dph

Proposed tenures

Market housing - Owner occupied , 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?

Please see submitted location plan and Vision Document. Access would be created from Balls Lane.

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)

150

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

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

The site would contribute towards ensuring that the housing needs of the area can be met outside any of the more vulnerable areas of Bedford, including those at risk from flooding or in a more sensitive landscape. Importantly the site would contribute to realising the wider green infrastructure aspirations for the area set out in policies AD24-AD26 of the adopted Local Plan. As is set out in more detail in the accompanying Vision document, the site lies within a Green Infrastructure Opportunity Zone and the proposal presented sets out how a sensitive residential development would release a significant amount of land which could be improved as a multi-functional green space. Further, this area will provide opportunities for new tree planting, in line with the aspirations for the Marston Vale Forest which would help mitigate any climate change impacts. The development of 150 units would help to support local facilities, including the primary school and post office, which are essential to maintaining the sustainability of rural settlements. Without new development of an appropriate scale in rural areas, it is likely that facilities will not be able to be sustained and more people will need to travel for day-to-day services and facilities, to the detriment of the environment. The development will be constricted to the highest standards with opportunities for the layout, building orientation and massing of the development, along with the landscaping, to be utilised to minimise energy consumption.

Attachments

File: Vision document redacted

File: Covering letter redacted

Site size (ha)

14.21

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

? The site is within or adjoining a defined settlement policy area or within the built form of a small settlement.

1b. Accessible on foot to a food store?

++ A site accessibility score of 8 is recorded where 8 is 0 – 10 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.

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

+ The site is within 10 minutes’ walk of a bus stop with a regular bus service (at least hourly) which enables travel 8am-6pm Monday to Friday to a major employer or it is possible to walk to a major employer within 10 minutes.

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?

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.

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?

? The site is within or adjoining a defined settlement policy area or within the built form of a small settlement.

3c. Accessible on foot to a food store?

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

3d. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

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

3e. Accessible on foot or by bus 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?

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?

0 The proposal is likely to have a neutral effect on the landscape.

8b. Within the existing settlement form?

+ The site adjoins 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?

+ The site is 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?

? The site is within or adjoining a defined settlement policy area or within the built form of a small settlement.

15b. Accessible on foot to a food store?

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

15c. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

++ A site accessibility score of 8 is recorded where 8 is 0 – 10 minutes’ walk

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

15e. Connect highway without constraint?

? Potential access requiring mitigation

15f. Highway or junction capacity issues

+ No capacity issues

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

Access onto Balls Lane, which then connects to Bedford Rd. The section of Balls Lane between the site and Bedford would need to be widened to accommodate this scale of development. Occasional congestion on Bedford Rd. A bus stop is within 100m of the site entrance with the 73 bus providing a connection to Bedford approximately every 30 minutes. There is a public footpath running through the site however a separate hardstanding pedestrian access will need to be provided, likely onto Bedford Rd with a pedestrian crossing linking to the existing pavement. There is no specific cycle connectivity however cycling towards the A421 via Cardington connects to a traffic-free cycle route on the edge of Bedford taking you towards the centre. The stretch of Balls Lane between the proposed access point and Bedford Rd will need to be widened to accommodate for traffic from a development of this size. Pedestrian access will need to be provided, this is most likely through a separate access onto Bedford Rd, with a pedestrian crossing to the existing pavement. Better cycle signage directing residents towards the traffic-free cycle path starting on the outskirts of Bedford would be beneficial.

Contaminated Land

Nothing chosen

Environmental Health note

no noise concerns

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.