Rural England
BEDFORDSHIRE
Who we are
Growth Plans
In this section we include some of the county issues the branch deals with on a regular basis or has been engaged in over the last few months or even years. We refer to strategic planning matters and large scale planning applications
January 2008 updates to this section : Luton Airport Expansion 
Government Growth Plans for Bedfordshire & East of England
Since 2003, this branch has been heavily involved in campaigning over the
Government’s plans for massive growth in the area. Plans for Bedfordshire are
featured in the Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy (MKSM).The
plan, covering one of the four growth areas under the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan , involves a 45% increase in the number of new homes to
be built by 2021 over and above previously agreed levels, in a largely rural
area stretching from Aylesbury to Corby and covering large parts of Northamptonshire,
Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Section from our travelling display ‘What’s in Store for Bedfordshire’
In recent years CPRE has supported the Government's improved policies for
new homes and urban renewal but is concerned that the major greenfield development
proposals, as in the MKSM, could be at the expense of the environment and declining
urban areas. The present strategy contains major threats to designated Green
Belt and the wider countryside; road schemes which will fuel traffic growth
and congestion. It will not guarantee long term affordable housing and has
no mechanism for creating jobs for the future. Follow this link to read more
about our CPRE's Sustainable
Communities Campaign
Although the general strategy has been finalised, we urge individuals and groups to take part in opportunities to influence local proposals through the Local Development Frameworks (replacing Local Plans).
CPRE Bedfordshire's NEW Presentation
CPRE Bedfordshire's NEW Presentation to help you protect our countryside and environment.
The presentation is in three parts showing ;
* Why Bedfordshire’s countryside is worth protecting
* The Government’s Growth Plans for the county in a regional context
* Changes to the Planning System and how individuals and groups can still influence future plans.
The slides include views of the county’s countryside, with a geological map to explain the diversity of habitats and landscape, and diagrams to help understand the more complex issues of the Growth Plans and planning.
Contact CPRE if your group would like to view this or hire a CD
Further implications for growth in our county feature in the draft East of England Plan
East of England Plan
The East of England Plan will bring yet more pressure on Bedfordshire in addition to that from MKSM development. It proposes 10,700 more dwellings for Bedfordshire and Luton by 2021, of which 8,270 would be in Mid Beds, bringing the total figure for the county to 56,500 by 2021. Large scale developments proposed for the M11-Peterborough corridor, along the East coast and at the two major airports will add greatly to road traffic through Bedfordshire. The plan suggests minimising environmental damage through concentrating housing in existing urban areas and through good design, but this assumes that this scale of development is inevitable and consequently it is likely to weaken protection of the Green Belts.
Bedfordshire, shown in yellow, is in the East of England Region. The neighbouring counties of Northants and Bucks are in separate regions but all three counties make up the Milton Keynes & South Midlands Growth area.
Next steps in the process for finalising the East of England Plan
The Panel Inspector for the East of England Plan published his report in June 2006. CPRE have prepared a report on this which has now been published and can be seen in our section on What's New
The Secretary of State will make his own changes to the draft plan, and publish a revised draft for a 12 - week public consultation sometime in the autumn. CPRE will also respond to this.
See ‘What’s New : Consultation on Changes to East of England Plan’
The plan is due to be finalised and formally adopted in early 2007
Further information available at the following links .........
CPRE National Office East of England Plan - News Update
East of England Regional Assembly website
Government Office East of England, Regional planning
The final approved version of this plan is not expected until 2007. CPRE along with the National Trust and other conservation organisations wants to see major changes in this Plan.
Milton Keynes City Expansion
Milton Keynes City Expansion Options
Milton Keynes Partnership (MKP) has published ‘The new Plan for Milton Keynes: A Strategy for Growth to 2031’. This is based on the chosen Option 1 of six proposals. Many aspects of the ‘New Plan’ are controversial. City neighbourhoods may be redeveloped to provide ‘intensification’, and country areas filled with ‘urban extensions which threaten the coalescence of settlements and the loss of rural landscapes’.
The Plan calls for some 60,700 new dwellings to be built in and around the city between 2006 and 2031. Of these, 14,100 would be built within the existing urban area and 46,600 would be peripheral (i.e. ‘greenfield’) growth within and beyond the Borough boundary, with some into Bedfordshire.
Area of Bedfordshire countryside near Salford in the path of the Milton Keynes’ steamroller (© Alice Crampin)
From 2016, development would start in two major new growth sectors lying outside the city and its existing designated expansion areas. A sector south-east of the city would provide some 7200 homes between 2016 and 2021. Of these, 3200 would be in Bedfordshire. Later, a growth sector to the south-west of the city would accommodate about 14,300 homes. The development in the south-west would be in two phases: half the homes to be built between 2021 and 2026 and the rest between 2026 and 2031. See What’s New section MK Expansion Buchanan .
Expansion towards and into Bedfordshire is now scheduled to begin earlier than many expected as part of the first big urban extension. This is justified by the MKP by saying that since development scheduled in the existing Milton Keynes Plan, up to 2016, will be located on the city’s existing south-eastern periphery, expansion yet further south-eastwards would be a logical follow on.
The homes to be built within the Mid Beds District could potentially join the Bedfordshire villages of Aspley Guise and Husborne Crawley to Milton Keynes. There is considerable local disquiet over this possibility. Mid Bedfordshire District Council is promoting the need to protect the countryside between the villages and the city. One option would be to extend the northern edge of the South Bedfordshire Green Belt, north of the railway in Aspley Guise, to give permanent protection.
Center Parcs
 |
 |
| View before development | After development ? |
The branch has been engaged in responding to the
plans for a 5th ‘holiday village’ to be built in
Warren Wood, Millbrook (off A507). Although not against
such resorts in principle, CPRE Beds, along with
many other groups including Steppingley Parish
Council, is concerned that such a development
is inappropriate for the location which is on Green
Belt land and in an Area of Great Landscape Value;
the building of 700 villas, a hotel and a conference
centre and the many leisure facilities will draw
on shrinking water resources and generate considerable
traffic congestion while the contribution to local
employment is negligible in an area of low unemployment.
See our response by downloading this PDF (60K) document
- Center Parcs or follow this link to our section What's
New - Center Parcs
Wind Farm Schemes and Renewable Energy
This branch has been engaged in a campaign opposing
the siting of a windfarm in the Podington Hinwick
area of North Beds, bordering Northamptonshire. Our
response is available to download as a PDF (88K) should be seen in the context
of increasing planning applications for wind farms
in and around Bedfordshire, backed by the Government’s
support for wind rather than other renewable energy
sources. Each of the 9 turbines, 125 metres
high, would have a huge adverse visual impact over
a very large area.
 |  |
| Turvey to Carlton road | Turbine height to Podington Church |
The illustration above left shows the Turvey to Carlton road where the turbines would be visible in the distant space between the trees high above the horizon. Illustration above right The balloon shows the height of each turbine in relation to the nearby Parish Church of Podington.
Follow this link for a summary of the presentation on Renewable Energy given by Michael Jefferson, international expert, at the branch’s AGM in April 2006 in which he concludes that central England has insufficient wind speed to make wind energy a viable investment. This application has not been determined. Follow this link to downlaod a PDF (49K) of CPRE’s policy on onshore wind energy .
Transport, Road Building and Bypasses
Increasing traffic congestion brings pressure for new roads and bypasses which CPRE believes should still be the option of last resort. Any short term relief through road building is likely to come at high cost to the countryside. CPRE believes there are better, less damaging solutions. The Government’s Planning Policy on transport (PPG13) advocates CPRE’s approach that road building programmes should always consider the full effect of the schemes on the countryside and the alternative options to road building. Planning and transport policy should: promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking and cycling and should reduce the need to travel, especially by car.
The branch comments on the Local Transport Plan
(covering 5 years) during its preparation. It has
also campaigned for a policy to identify lanes in
the county that could be classified as ‘Quiet’,
making them safer and more tranquil for pedestrians,
cyclists and horses. Follow this link to download
a PDF (35K) of our Policy on Roads and Bypasses . The branch monitors all major road building schemes and comments accordingly.
Current consultations or approvals
Dunstable Northern Bypass
A421 improvements
The Highways Agency has published its updated plans both for the realignment of this road, to be dualled from Marsh Leys Junction, Bedford to the M1, and for the junctions along the route. CPRE is still unhappy about the impact on the landscape around Wood End Marston and the environmental effect of so much additional road traffic travelling across the county from the A1 to the M1 but we are pleased to note that the route will only be lit where there are major linking junctions.
The widened A421 will sweep into the countryside at Wood End, Marston near Marston Thrift, a woodland of special scientific interest (SSSI).
East Luton Corridor
The East Luton Corridor, helping to link the M1 to the airport south of Luton, has recently been approved for central Government funding. It was in fact a scheme put forward long before the Growth Area plans for Bedfordshire. CPRE Bedfordshire supported the road improvement except for a proposed bus loop which would have carved a chunk out of the historic parkland of Luton Hoo, which flanks the Corridor at this point. Pressure from CPRE and South Beds District Council forced Luton Borough to withdraw this proposal even though it would have shortened the bus route.
M1 Widening
The Highways Agency plans to widen 15 miles of the road between Junctions 10 and 13 where it will be joined by the dualled A421. We accept the need for the widening and as a branch we have not made any adverse comments.
Currently ' In build '
Leighton Linslade Western Bypass
| BEFORE | AFTER |
 |  |
| Footpath route Linslade Bypass | Linslade bypass route Feb 06 |
Leighton Linslade Western bypass extending the A505 west of Leighton Buzzard towards Milton Keynes. First illustration (Footpath route Linslade bypass) shows the route we campaigned against through beautiful countryside. We were represented at the public enquiry. In the end we secured an agreement for a reduction to minimal lighting to reduce pollution. The second illustration (Linslade bypass route Feb 06 TA) shows the destruction to the fine landscape.
Bedford Western Bypass
| We have campaigned long with local action group ARK (Action for Rural Kemptson) against the route chosen for the crossing of the River Great Ouse, from the flood plain to within 100 metres of All Saints church, Kempston Rural. We are convinced that the extra cars generated by the housing alongside the route will add to Bedford’s traffic congestion. Meanwhile Government funding is intended to pay for both the section that will relieve Kempston of some through traffic heading for the A421, but also for the viaduct past All Saints, before the housing programme that will repay for the scheme. | View from Ridge Road, Kempston towards The Bury & All Saints Church on the left |
 | |
| The Bedford Western bypass will cut through the fields to the right of the parish church seen on the left in the distance. Approx 1000 dwellings will follow this side of the river, enclosing Bury House, far right. | |
Transport, Airport Expansion Luton Airport
Updated 29.01.2008
 | Proposals for a new runway to the south of the present runway have been withdrawn. It would have taken in a huge area of land lying in the South Beds and North Herts Green Belt, much of the latter being also designated an area of Great Landscape Beauty. It would have blanketed a whole new swathe of countryside with noise and air pollution. The 2nd runway proposal would have enabled the airport to deal with a throughput of 31m passengers p.a., compared with the current throughput of 10m. |
| A greatly enlarged airport would skirt the edge of Someries Castle, Bedfordshire’s oldest brick building. |
The airport’s owners say they will now concentrate on building throughput up to the maximum possible with the existing facilities, assessed by them at 15m p.p.a. As this is 50% above present levels, serious concerns remain about the impacts on the local environment, particularly from the perspective of surface access and traffic generation. CPRE will stay closely in touch with other environmental groups in watching the situation closely.
Information and PDF files of the plan are available for download at this website address Luton Airport Project 2030 . Use this link to download a PDF (37K) of CPRE’s Policy on Air Travel
Minerals Extraction
The varied geology of Bedfordshire has led to a range of minerals being extracted over the years, from chalk in the south through greensand to clay and gravel further north. The branch comments on the county’s draft strategic Minerals and Waste Development Framework (Plan). It is particularly concerned at the number of proposals for future gravel extraction at rates higher than currently, and intended to support the proposed housing growth.
Waste
Bedfordshire has many substantial voids left from mineral extraction. These have come to be seen as suitable sites for the disposal of increasing amounts of waste now being generated; indeed some historic permissions for extraction have required restoration with 'appropriate materials'.
This has resulted in the commercial exploitation of several of the voids for massive inputs of waste from other areas, mainly London with attendant problems of traffic, litter, smells, vermin, noise and loss of land undergoing natural regeneration.
CPRE Bedfordshire agrees with the county in its support of national and regional policies on waste minimisation. We are opposed to any new major landfill site while there is still space in currently licensed sites. We are not opposed to extending the life of existing sites if inputs can be restricted to local waste.
Nirah
The project to build a National Institute for Research into (freshwater) Aquatic Habitats and a Visitor Centre is being proposed on 40 hectares of a former clay pit (Quest Pit) near Stewartby. The project is still in the early stages of a public consultation. The branch will be responding to the formal planning application when this has been submitted and will be looking particularly at the environmental impacts of the proposal.
Rowing Lake
Permission has recently been granted for the creation of an Olympic sized rowing lake as part of the ongoing extraction of aggregates at Willington. The Branch did not oppose a rowing lake but opposed the size, which results in the severance of the East / West rail link through Bedford. The County Council accepted the need to maintain Bedford ‘as a rowing centre of excellence’ and following the Report on the Examination of the East of England Plan, it also considered that heavy investment in a rail link east of Bedford was not a priority. The Branch is much concerned by the hidden agenda of applications for substantial collateral development which will follow, and which will be ‘justified’ by the need to fund the extra work on the lake.
Milton Keynes to Bedford Canal
The branch does not oppose the canal in principle but is concerned about the impact of supporting developments on existing villages and the open countryside along its entire route. It is also concerned about the potential loss of tranquillity to the river and its character if the canal traffic joins the river through Bedford itself. We remain sceptical about the unquantified ‘benefits’ of the canal.
Green Belt Land
CPRE has long campaigned for Green Belt land to protect our countryside from urban sprawl, by protecting the setting of existing historic towns and villages and by preventing the merging of these settlements. Follow this link to read more about CPRE’s Green Belt Campaign
| Here in Bedfordshire we have campaigned to retain land as Green Belt alongside Flitwick Moor, in order to protect the Moor itself. Flitwick Moor is Bedfordshire's most important wetland area, with bog moss, woodland, rare plants and birds. Its fragile habitat and especially its dependency on a clear, reliable water supply, would be greatly damaged by the proximity of housing development, increased pressure from public access (e g trampling on plants and creatures), from dumping and from access by domestic dogs and cats attacking ground-nesting birds and other wildlife. Flitwick Moor itself is not Green Belt land as it is protected from actual development by its designation as an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest). Following a joint campaign, the Mid Beds Local Plan has now been adopted and in it the disputed land will retain its Green Belt status. One hurdle still to overcome is that the developer is challenging the decision by seeking a Judicial Review. CPRE and other groups need to continue supporting Mid Beds District Council as it prepares the new Plan for Mid Beds known as the Local Development Framework. |
 |
| Iron rich stream in the middle of woodland on Flitwick Moor |
Housing Developments
The branch monitors weekly planning applications for housing and other development in areas that will affect the countryside and its environment and responds to these in a balanced and informed way. We also monitor the briefs for the larger scale developments and comment on strategic plans. Many of these are discussed in our newsletter Bedfordshire Matters
