Call for Sites

Land at Cardington Airfield, Bedford, MK42 0TF

Disused Airfield

Disused airfield and approved residential development

Agricultural/Ecological Enhancement

Disused airfield and Ecological Enhancement

Disused Airfield

Yes

Housing

Nothing chosen

Up to 350 homes

Family houses , Flats

No answer given

37 dph

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

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

From the Bellway Homes site to the north of the Site - please see accompanying Vision Document for further information

Yes

No

No

No

350

No answer given

No answer given

No answer given

2023/24

The proposal incorporates on-site green infrastructure including the delivery of parkland/open space, street planting and SuDS to help to mitigate against flooding, reduce ambient heat and provide space and connections for biodiversity. Homes within the development will achieve at least a 19% reduction in carbon emissions below the Building Regulation requirement and incorporate renewable energy sources. All new residential development will achieve the higher water efficiency standard in the Building Regulations, subject to viability.

15.00

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

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

++ A site accessibility score of 8 is recorded where 8 is 0 – 10 minutes’ walk. , + A site accessibility score of 6 is recorded where 6 is 11 – 20 minutes’ walk.

xx There is no public transport within 10 minutes’ walk to enable access to a major employer

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

+ The site is not within or adjoining a site of nature conservation importance

x Protected species could be affected.

? Uncertain or insufficient information

0 The site is not within or adjoining the green infrastructure opportunity network or the impact of the proposal is neutral.

+ 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

xx There is no public transport within 10 minutes’ walk to enable access to a major employer.

xx The proposal has the potential to cause very high harm (which may reach the level of substantial harm) to a heritage asset. Development with this level of impact will be removed from further consideration unless it can be demonstrated that the harm can be avoided, mitigated or outweighed by substantial public benefits.

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.

x The site is separated from 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 site is not on best and most versatile agricultural land as defined in the NPPF.

+ 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

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

xx There is no public transport within 10 minutes’ walk to enable access to a major employer.

? Potential access requiring mitigation

? Potential capacity problem requiring mitigation

The site can be reached from Southhill Road and is located Southeast from the centre of Bedford. The access could happen from a local road which located north of the site. The nearest bus stop served by service 9A/9B is ‘Cardington Hangers’, which is located on the Site frontage approximately 150m south of Greycote roundabout in both directions. A shared use footway/cycleway is available between Shortstown and the village of Cotton End, on A600 High Road The proposed masterplan will focus on ‘placemaking’ to accommodate either extended or new viable bus services into the site via land to the rear of the listed Airship Sheds to serve a central bus stop that would be accessible by future residents within a 400m walking distance of dwellings and other facilities. For pedestrians and cyclists, connections will be made to the existing network of footways in Shortstown via the Spine Road to A600 and into New Cardington, and via a new ‘green corridor’ to Jackson’s Gate to the south west of the listed Airship Sheds. This combined route for pedestrians and cyclists would then link with the existing footway/cycleway along A600 and provide access further afield to New Cardington and Cotton End.

Nothing chosen

noise from cardington sheds

Entire site falls 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. In addition the development is proposed within the adjacent flying field to Sheds 1 and 2 (grade II*) - an historically undeveloped area of land in which the large airships and aircraft stored in the hangars were manoeuvred - requiring a large area. The flying field therefore makes a key contribution to the significance of both listed buildings, and development within the flying field will remove much of their remaining open setting as well as impact on the historic understanding of both assets. Potential to cause very high less than substantial harm or substantial harm to their significance.

Land west and south of Shortstown (part of College Farm)

Agricultural

Agricultural, Recreation/Residential

Agricultural

Residential/A600

Agricultural

No

Housing

Housing , Employment , Retail

Approximately 1,000 homes

Family houses , Older people housing , Flats

No answer given

37 dph

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

No answer given

No answer given

Nothing chosen

No answer given

B1 use

Within 0.82ha Local Centre

Shops/Services

No answer given

Within 0.82ha Local Centre

No answer given

0.82ha for Local Centre and 2.3ha for education

1x Primary school and Local Centre including potential healthcare centre

The current access is unsuitable/requires improvement

Two access points onto A600 to the east of the Site - see Vision Document for illustration

Yes

No

No

No

750 homes

250 homes

No answer given

No answer given

2023/24

The proposal incorporates a significant amount of on-site green infrastructure including the delivery of woodland planting and SuDS to help to mitigate against flooding, reduce ambient heat and provide space and connections for biodiversity. Homes within the development will achieve at least a 19% reduction in carbon emissions below the Building Regulation requirement and incorporate renewable energy sources.

67.78

Above

Site within flood zone 3a or 3b

Include in next stage of assessment

Site is available

Include in next stage of assessment

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

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

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

+ 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.

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

+ The site is not 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.

+ Development of the site includes a renewable energy generation scheme or efficiency standards that go beyond normal requirements.

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

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

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

+ 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.

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.

+ Proposal includes permanent economic and employment opportunities.

+ Proposal includes a main town centre use in or on the edge of a town centre.

+ The proposal includes or is within 400m walking distance of a publicly accessible open space that includes an equipped children’s play area of at least 200m2 .

+ The proposal includes or is within 800m of a publicly accessible sports facility.

+ The proposal is likely to have a positive effect on the landscape.

+ 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.

x All or a majority of the site is best and most versatile agricultural land as defined in the NPPF.

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

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

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

+ The development will meet identified housing needs eg elderly, care, travellers.

+ The site is within 800m of a facility where cultural or social activities can be accessed.

+ 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.

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

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

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

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

+ 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.

+ No access constraints

? Potential capacity problem requiring mitigation

Two new access points will be made onto High Road. Due to the size of the development, signalised junctions may be required to prevent congestion on High Road or within the development. For both safety and highway capacity, the A600 High Road will need to be reduced to 30mph around the development. There is an existing bus stop on High Road with a service between Bedford- Hitchin approx every 30 minutes, however, it is currently unmarked and without a shelter. There is a large cycle/pedestrian path along the opposite side of High Road, which could be easily utilised with a toucan crossing installed, allowing direct pedestrian and cycle access to the site. Install signalised junctions for site access, preventing congestion on High Road. Include crossings for pedestrians and cycles to safely access the existing cycle/pedestrian path on High Road from the site. Improve the existing bus stop to include road markings and a bus shelter to make them more visible and attractive to use.

Nothing chosen

no noise concern

Site does not fall within the boundary of a MSA.

The site is suitable for allocation for residential development and open space. A masterplan and design code should be prepared to ensure that development accords with the South of Bedford strategic framework. Consideration should be given to the impact of the development on the Meteorological Research Unit at Cardington. Development will need to have regard to surrounding heritage assets. A Transport Assessment will be required and should particularly focus on mitigating impacts on the surrounding network and maximising opportunities for sustainable travel. A 2.4ha serviced primary school site will be required. A site specific flood risk assessment will also be needed in order to consider all sources of flood risk. Site is proposed for allocation HOU17 Land at College Farm, Shortstown.