Call for Sites Form

Form ID: 905

Interest in land

Other (please specify)

Specify 'other' land interest

Please contact the agent: Matthew Hewitt

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

Yes

Address of site

Randalls Farm, Bedford, MK43 9NE (Nearest) Easting: 501981 Northing: 243746

Location plan

Show full map

Current use of land

Vacant

Adjoining use to the north

Agriculture

Adjoining use to the south

Landfill site

Adjoining use to the east

Railway line / Agriculture

Adjoining use to the west

Agriculture

Has the site been developed previously?

Yes

Proposed primary use

Housing

Other uses proposed

Employment

Number of dwellings proposed

Type of housing proposed

Self-build/Custom build homes , Other

Other type of housing

Demonstrator homes

Density proposed

See supporting information submitted.

Proposed tenures

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

Other tenures proposed

Demonstrator homes

Permanent or transit?

No answer given

Site privately owned?

Nothing chosen

Number of plots proposed

No answer given

Proposed type of employment

Use Class B1 / Use Class D / Sui Generis

Gross floorspace proposed

To be determined, subject to residential layout.

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?

Vehicular, pedestrian & cycle access to the site can be achieved through a new access directly onto Broadmead Road. Indicative access shown on the enclosed site location plan.

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)

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?

2024/25

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

Masterplanning for the site will consider the most appropriate development layout to achieve passive benefits (i.e. all dwellings south-facing) as well as energy and water efficiency. The proposed development is for ‘Model Village’, the function of which will be to demonstrate, and test innovative and low carbon technologies as well provide a knowledge exchange and educational hub. The site and proposed development present an opportunity to act as a physical local example of the objectives Policy 51S seeks to achieve.

Attachments

File: Land at Randalls Farm - Model Village Vision [Submission].pdf

Site size (ha)

2.86

Site size threshold

Above

Overriding constraint?

None

Stage1 conclusion

Include in next stage of assessment

Stage 2 Assessment of suitability, availability & achievability

Site is available , Site is likely to be achievable

Stage 2 conclusion

Include in next stage of assessment

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?

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

1c. Accessible on foot to a primary school?

+ 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?

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 fewer than 3 ecosystem services.

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?

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

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?

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?

x All or a majority of the site is 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?

? 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?

+ The site is likely to provide a mix of housing and 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?

+ A site accessibility score of 6 is recorded where 6 is 11 – 20 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?

+ No access constraints

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 to the site is feasible from Broadmead Road. No significant traffic in the vicinity and the proposal will have at most a moderate impact on the highway network. Broadmead Road is currently a bus route, however there are no bus stops along this section of Broadmead Road mainly because there are no footways present. The closest bus stop is 1.4km away from the site. There are no footways either side of the road and there are no provisions for cyclists other than the use of the carriageway. Proposals to improve public transport, pedestrian & cycle access to the site are unlikely to be viable given the scale of development proposed.

Contaminated Land

Nothing chosen

Environmental Health note

noise from railway

Mineral Safeguarding Area

Site does not fall within the boundary of a MSA.

Site assessment conclusions

The site is suitable for allocation as a new settlement to include a mix of uses including residential, business / science campus and innovation hub as part of a larger allocation. Residential uses may be better placed elsewhere within the larger allocation to fit better with the strategy. The larger site has been separately - Site 0004. Site is proposed for allocation in combination with other sites 745, 809, 898, 900 and 1050 - HOU14 Kempston Hardwick new settlement.