• Who we are
• Contacts
• Bedfordshire Issues
• Whats New
• Living Countryside Awards
• Events
• Getting Involved
• How to Join
• Links

• CPRE National Office
• Campaigns
• Policies

• News Archive

• Bedfordshire Matters Library
• Site map

 

 

A selection of older news articles can be found in the 'News Archive'

 

Windfarm proposals

 

Between Langford and the A1 Trunk Road

 

Click the image to see a full size view

Update 13th February 2012

This application was initially refused by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC). The applicant, Co-operative Group, went to Appeal and a Public Inquiry was held by a Government Inspector. On 19 January, the Inspector allowed the Appeal with conditions and so the windfarm will proceed, thus overturning the decision made by the local council (CBC) in January 2011.

The windfarm of 10 turbines will be built north of Edworth Rd, Langford and West of the A1, south of Biggleswade and is set to power 11,400 homes. The Appeal decision is a great disappointment for residents and local politicians. Local MP Alistair Burt has expressed his deep concerns on the outcome to fellow politicians. The original application MB/09/00118 can be found on Central Bedfordshire’s website.

Community turbine for Gamlingay S Cambs

 

An application has been submitted for a community 330 kw turbine (53.7m to tip) at Castle Farm, Gamlingay. CPRE Bedfordshire is currently working with residents of Cockayne Hatley in Bedfordshire who will be affected by this turbine. We are highlighting issues of noise, location and flicker as well as the viability of wind energy of this type in general. We refer to CPRE’s tranquillity maps which show the surrounding area as green and tranquil. Refer to South Cambs District Council Application number S/2564/11

At Nun Wood near the on Three Shires Way, near Harrold, North Bedfordshire

Updated 25th April 2012

Following a legal challenge by Milton Keynes Council and campaigning by local action groups, Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, confirms that the Appeal decision on the Nunwood Windfarm will be quashed because of an inconsistency between the inspector’s comments in the noise commentary and the noise conditions. A new inspector will hear the evidence afresh.

Earlier the refusal of this proposal by Bedford Borough Council and subsequent appeal launched by the developer, the proposed 12-turbine wind farm at Nun Wood was the subject of an Inquiry held before an independent inspector on 4th October 2011. CPRE Bedfordshire presented evidence at this Inquiry in relation to landscape value and cumulative impact, on behalf of the local campaign organisation ‘BLOT’ (Bozeat Lavendon Oppose Turbines).

Following the submission of CPRE's objection against the proposed Nun Wood wind farm, which would straddle the three counties of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, additional work was undertaken by both the applicant and the three local authorities to assess primarily the landscape impact of the proposal and the noise impact of the turbines on local dwellings.

An independent assessment of the landscape impact was commissioned by the local authorities and undertaken by The Cooper Partnership of Bristol, the results of which were relayed to the applicant. In response, further information was received by Officers at Bedford Borough Council, which can now be viewed on the website:
Online applications - 09/00137/MAF

 

Update 24th February 2012

Three Shires Way Windfarm agreed by Inspector to dismay of campaigners

After a three year campaign by CPRE Bedfordshire and local communities to protect the landmark setting of the Three Shires Way west of Harrold, the Planning Inspector, following the recent Appeal by Npower, has given permission for the Nun Wood windfarm of 12 turbines straddling three county borders.

As a result of refusal by Bedford Borough and Milton Keynes (Bucks) Councils and non-determination by Wellingborough (Northants) Council the applicant submitted an appeal which was the subject of a public inquiry hearing in October 2011. In support of the three councils and the local opposition group, CPRE Bedfordshire submitted evidence opposing the application.

In his report, the Inquiry Inspector acknowledged the adverse impact that would be inflicted on the landscape and local community but nevertheless concluded that the proposal was in the national interest and upheld the appeal, permitting the application.

CPRE is particularly disappointed in this outcome as the Bedfordshire landscape which will be blighted by these turbines is of high quality with significant historic and cultural features.

All three constituent MPs for the area have made representations to the Secretary of state deploring this decision – particularly in the light of the new Localism Bill which was published on the same day as the Inspector’s decision.

In addition, Milton Keynes has challenged the validity of this decision and has appealed to the Secretary of State to reconsider. MK invited Bedford Borough to join it in supporting this action, but despite CPRE Bedfordshire’s encouragement the Borough declined to offer its support – a decision by the Borough that CPRE views with total dismay. It remains to be seen whether MK’s initiative will bear fruit.

For a location map and landscape lost along the Three Shires Way go to ‘BLOT’ (Bozeat Lavendon Oppose Turbines)

Read the Inspector's Appeal Decision letter PDF 308KB

 

Giant Wind Turbine - Heath & Reach

 

By a narrow majority of 9 to 8, and contrary to a strong recommendation for refusal by Council officers, an application by Arnold White Estates (AWE) for a massive wind turbine at Double Arches Quarry, Heath & Reach, was approved by Central Beds Development Management Committee on 28th March 2011, subject to agreement by the applicant to certain conditions.  Conditions for the development have since been agreed, and the Council’s Decision Notice giving planning consent was issued on August 2nd 2011.

Not only would the sheer height of the proposed turbine create an eyesore in the landscape, visible from as far away as Woburn Park, but its location within the Green Belt and in a landscape assessed as of high value and sensitivity represents a major departure from national Green Belt policy, which could have implications elsewhere.

Because this decision seemed to us to fly in the face of national policy on Green Belts, we requested that the application be ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State for his own determination. Unfortunately, he did not consider there were sufficient grounds to warrant his intervention.

 

Podington Hinwick Area of North Bedfordshire

 

Following the dismissal of Nuon Renewables appeal in relation to their 3 turbine proposal near Podington, North Bedfordshire, CPRE is aware that the decision of the Inspector is now the subject of a legal challenge by the applicant, which was submitted to the High Court on 31 March 2010. Within the challenge, Nuon sought to argue against the legality of the Inspector’s decision based on his views in relation to noise, visual impact and the definition of financially involved parties.

The branch will continue to monitor this case and will seek to provide updates through this site as and when any rulings are made.

In the event that the High Court finds in favour of the appellant, the proposal will be subject to a fresh Public Inquiry, and the scheme will once again be assessed on its merits by a new Inspector. CPRE will of course seek to make fresh representation towards any subsequent Inquiry that arises to ensure that our stance is once again conveyed in full.

The applicant subsequently won the right to a further appeal (December 2011) to which CPRE Beds again contributed. The decision for this second appeal has not been made public as yet.

 

Chelveston

The picturesque and historic village of Yelden (with the castle mound - a scheduled ancient monument -  to the left), showing its proximity to Chelveston airfield with its 50-metre redundant radio mast - the proposed site of a nine turbine windfarm. Each turbine would be 2½ times the height of the radio mast. - © Barry Halton

Click image to enlarge

This 9 x 125 metre high turbine windfarm (4 in Bedfordshire, 5 in Northants) straddles the county border and was refused by the Planning Committees of both the Bedford Borough and East Northants authorities.

The site lies on an elevated plateau which falls away on its Bedfordshire side, particularly towards the village of Yelden. In terms of impact on population, the closeness of the village to the proposed development would result in a greater adverse impact than either Podington or Nun Wood.

As expected the applicant has appealed against the decision, and a planning inquiry will take place in Thrapston, Northants from 6 –16 March 2012

CPRE Bedfordshire has submitted evidence to the inquiry opposing the proposal PDF 96KB.

 

Planning application CB/11/04444/OUT Stearn Land, Leighton Buzzard

 

CPRE Bedfordshire has strongly objected to outline plans for up to 270 homes to be built on the Stearn Land, Leighton Buzzard. The application is for the ‘balance’ of 2500 homes envisaged for the Eastern Leighton Buzzard extension.

The Application CB/11/04444 can be read at Central Bedfordshire Council's website (PDFs)

Please voice your concerns.

You can email the relevant planning officer Vicki.davies@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

Read CPRE’s full objection letter PDF 68KB

Read summary of CPRE’s objections

 

 

Energy from Waste

 

Energy Recovery Facility, Twinwoods Business Park, Milton Ernest

 

Update 9th February 2012

Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, refuses planning permission for Biogen’s application for an incinerator/energy recovery facility at Twinwoods. 

Two consecutive planning applications were refused. The subsequent appeal by the applicant was the subject of an inquiry which ended in May 2011. A decision by the Government Inspector was then deferred until early 2012 by which time the outcome of the application for Covanta’s incinerator/energy from waste plan in the Marston Vale would be known. As anticipated, the need for the 160,000 tonnes capacity plant was looked at in the light of Covanta’s plant which will take up to 600,000 tonnes.

CPRE Beds worked closely with the local community on this application.

For more background on proposals for an Energy Recovery Facility at Twinwoods, refer also to the article in Bedfordshire Issues, Waste .

 

Energy from Waste Plant (Covanta) at Stewartby

 

Update 17th October 2011

Decision made by the Government on the Energy from Waste Plant at Stewartby

The IPC (Infrastructure Planning Commission) has decided in favour of the Covanta incinerator proposal in the Marston Vale. CPRE and other local campaign groups as well as both Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Council are deeply disappointed. You can read the reasons for the IPC's decision here:

Download IPC Panel’s Decision and Statement of ReasonsPDF 1.17MB

The IPC's consent comes with conditions which must be met. The Environment Agency is yet to give its approval and to date Covanta has no significant customers so the economics of the incinerator still don't stack up.The fight goes on.

CPRE Bedfordshire is dismayed that the IPC has granted consent for the development of an incinerator/energy from waste plant at Rookery South. A Development Consent Order will be issued by a Parliamentary Office in due course. There are still a number of stages left in the political process before final consent is granted but meanwhile CPRE sees the proposal as signalling the re industrialisation of the Vale and an end to the existing intentions to ensure that the Vale is returned to its historic state of open countryside and a vital rural resource, with the Marston Vale Community Forest at its centre. The amenity of the Vale will be impacted on severely in relation to noise and air pollution, excess lorry traffic and the depletion of the setting of many rural communities. As an environmental organisation we also have grave concerns over the significant impact the development will have on the region’s sustainable waste strategy.

Download CPRE Bedfordshire's press release about the IPC decision   PDF 112KB

 

The Marston Vale is in focus as the site for at least one of two new potential waste processing schemes. The first is a major Energy from Waste (EfW) plant in the Rookery Clay Pit at Stewartby, proposed by The American company Covanta.

This is such a major application that it is being considered by the Government’s Infrastructure Planning Commission(IPC) rather than by the local authority. CPRE Beds has submitted a detailed report to the IPC objecting to this application (PDF 1.6MB).

CPRE also responded (PDF 88KB) to Covanta's further submission to the IPC which expands their case in light of the IPC's scrutiny. Covanta's submission can be read here

The IPC started the determination process for the proposal with an open public meeting in Bedford on 17th January 2011. The purpose of the meeting was for the Commissioners to outline the stages involved in their new examination process, which takes a faster track than conventional enquiries. The IPC initially placed a major emphasis on the need for submissions to be made in writing, however following requests made by several statutory and voluntary interested parties, they subsequently granted a series of open floor hearings in June and July. CPRE Bedfordshire attended two of the Issue Specific Hearings, in relation to Landscape, Visual Impact and Design and the Waste Hierarchy, while CPRE’s Regional Policy Officer made a representation at a further meeting.

The examination process concluded on 15th July 2011 and the IPC proceeded to reach its conclusion in favour of the proposal 3 months following this date, in October 2011.

Refer also to the short article in Bedfordshire Issues, Waste.

 

Living Countryside Awards 2012 - Nominations invited

 

Nominations are invited for the 2012 Living Countryside Awards. The scheme is in its 5th year and CPRE Bedfordshire is seeking nominations for projects which improve the county’s appearance, preserve its character and promote sustainability. The deadline for entries is 21st May.

The awards recognise groups or individuals that have made special efforts to improve the natural environment. The scheme is not competitive and anyone can nominate a project which they believe is deserving of recognition. The three categories for entries are Landscape Improvement, Historic and New Buildings and Sustainable Living.

This year the branch is keen to see examples of new housing developments that are imaginatively designed and have limited environmental impact on their surroundings.

Previous award winners have included country parks and ponds, conservation schemes on farms, farm shops, church restoration, and individual craft businesses such as thatching.

Download Living Countryside Awards 2012 Leaflet PDF 8.25MB
Download the application form DOC 112KB  [MS Word/Office] or
Download the application form PDF 172KB  [Acrobat Reader]

A prestigious awards ceremony will take place in the autumn.

Your nomination could make a great difference to groups and individuals working on imaginative local projects which care for and enhance our landscape and environment.

For further details contact Ann Collett-White 01234 353331or by email at ann.cw@cprebeds.org.uk

Read more about our Living Countryside Awards from 2008 to date

Transport, Road Building and Bypasses

 

 

A5 - M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass)

 

A developer contribution has now been secured to assist with the funding of this scheme, so the Government has agreed to release it from the current spending restraints. The Public Inquiry into the Draft Orders, suspended since June 2010, will now be held in February 2012, and work could potentially start sometime in 2013.

We registered 2 objections to the scheme – the lack of clarity regarding provision for future connection of Dunstable’s ‘Woodside Link’ with the bypass at M1 J11a, and the proposed installation of an intrusive belt of lighting along the section of bypass between the A5 and the junction with the A5120.

We will maintain these objections at the Public Inquiry unless in the meantime the Highways Agency shows they have been met.

 

M1 Junction 10a – Grade Separation

 

The scheme to grade-separate the M1 Luton Spur Road at its intersection with the A6 and Airport Way (M1 J10a) is still being pushed forward by Luton Borough Council, and an exhibition of its ‘Preferred Option’ was held in October 2011. However, of the £26.5m estimated cost, £19.5m requires Government funding, and this has yet to be secured.

The ‘Preferred Option’ is one of considerable complexity, and involves a significant take of land from Stockwood Park as well as incursion into the Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) opposite the Luton Hoo estate. As and when the scheme is put forward for planning approval, we shall undoubtedly be making representations, but it should be noted that because of its interaction with the national motorway network and relationship with airport access it is regarded as ‘Nationally Significant’, and will therefore not go through the normal Public Inquiry process but will be considered by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).

 

Luton & Dunstable Guided Busway

 

This scheme continues to make progress, albeit slowly. Clearance of vegetation from the route of the former Luton – Dunstable branch line is largely completed, as is the removal of redundant railway bridges and lifting of old railway track. The focus through the course of 2012 will be on the roadwork aspects. Current target date for completion of the Busway is Spring 2013, but if recent experience with commissioning the Cambridge – St.Ives Guided Busway is anything to go by, it could easily be 2014 before the Luton & Dunstable project finally becomes operational.

 

Read more about these and other articles in
Bedfordshire Issues - Transport, Road Building and Bypasses

 

 

N W Dunstable Consultation

Following a sustained campaign against this development, the application for 650 houses in the Green Belt between the north-west edge of Dunstable and Maiden Bower, site of an iron age hilltop fort, originally lodged by Trenport/Cemex in 2009  but only put up for determination by Central Bedfordshire Council on 9th November, has been refused.

More information about the application can be found in What's New Archive - N W Dunstable Consultation

 

 

For background to these applications see Bedfordshire Issues, Windfarms

 

 

National Planning Policy Framework

 

CPRE Bedfordshire submitted a response to the Government’s Consultation (ended 17 October 2011) on the proposed new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Building on the key areas of concern raised by CPRE at national level, the Bedfordshire branch's response elaborates on why these concerns could have particularly detrimental consequences for Bedfordshire.

The purpose of the NPPF is to streamline the planning process by reducing the number of planning documents and policy statements, thus enabling decisions to be made more efficiently and enable new developments economic growth to progress more rapidly. However, this raises serious concerns in relation to the vulnerability of English countryside. In particular, the NPPF does not make commitments towards retaining the protection of greenfield land and ensuring development of brownfield land first.

CPRE nationally has led a campaign to encourage individuals to voice concerns in relation to the threat that the NPPF poses to the countryside. The response to the national online campaign has been phenomenal, with thousands of people responding to the consultation and writing to their MPs.

Read our full response   PDF 80KB

 

 

CPRE Bedfordshire's Planning Guide

Influence planning decisions where you live: go to CPRE Bedfordshire’s NEW GUIDE -
How to become involved in local planning by using existing local and national web based planning resources 2.2MB PDF.

CPRE & the National Association of Local Councils have produced a set of three excellent booklets for anyone interested in understanding planning:
Planning Explained PDF 4.84MB
How to respond to planning applications: an 8 step guide PDF 3.98MB
How to shape where you live: a guide to Neighbourhood Planning PDF 5.50MB

 

Local Development Framework (LDF)

 

Luton and Southern Bedfordshire

 

 The Core Strategy for the LDF identifies how and where new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure will be provided across Luton and southern Central Bedfordshire (the former South Bedfordshire District Council area) over the coming years. To date, the LDF covering this area has been prepared jointly by Luton Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils.

With effect from 7th September 2011, the Secretary of State has withdrawn the core strategy from public examination. This comes in response to concerns expressed by Luton Borough Council as to the deliverability of the Core Strategy, on account of their opposition towards certain important aspects of the document. These include the non-allocation of a housing site allocation to the west of Luton and the lack of a Luton Northern Bypass, both of which would result in significant environment damage if they were to go ahead.

Two key decisions have now been made by Central Bedfordshire Council. Firstly, the contents of the withdrawn Core Strategy should nevertheless form interim ‘guidance’ for development management purposes within southern Central Bedfordshire, to be considered alongside the ‘saved’ policies of the 2004 South Bedfordshire Local Plan. CPRE Bedfordshire is concerned that, following the abandonment of the Examination in Public, the Core Strategy has not been fully assessed as to its ‘soundness’. Secondly, work will start immediately on preparation of a single Development Strategy document covering both the former South Beds District Council (SBDC) and Mid Beds District Council (MBDC) areas of Central Bedfordshire, with a target date for adoption by 2014.

The latest news in relation to the Luton and Southern Bedfordshire Local Development is available at the Joint Technical Unit’s website for Shape your Future. There are four key documents. The contacts are consultation@shapeyourfuture.org.uk or you can ring 01582 547026.

If you wish to contact a volunteer with CPRE Bedfordshire, you may ring Thurstan Adburgham on 01525 376064 or email thurstan.adburgham@cprebeds.org.uk.

 

Central Bedfordshire (North)

 

The Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) of the LDF was adopted by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) in April 2011. The document sets out the Council’s chosen sites for allocating housing, employment uses and green space in the former Mid Bedfordshire Area. It also allocates the Key Employment sites and Important Open Space designations across the area.

As part of the consultation process, the branch analysed the approximately 450 sites proposed, and commented on many of them. These representations were considered by the inspector at the Examination in Public in late 2010. The branch also made representations to the Council on the manner in which the consultation was conducted and managed. It was noted that a number of Parish/Town councils did likewise, and a number of local community groups.

Some community groups have protested that insufficient notice was given by CBC of the impact the LDF might have on their communities, and that they were unable to mobilise to provide input to the process. CPRE Beds takes the view that a consultation period of over two years was quite adequate, but on the other hand, the Authority did change some of the rules in mid-process. However, having been contacted by some community groups, the branch decided to prepare the Planning Guide to help members, individuals and community groups to monitor planning issues via the Authority websites.

Download the Guide:
How to become involved in local planning by using existing local and national web based planning resources 80KB PDF.

 

 

House building in the context of Regional Planning Policies

 

On 10 November 2010 a judgement on the Cala Homes case in the High Court was issued. This successfully challenged the decision on 6 July by the Secretary of State to revoke Regional Strategies, thereby reinstating Regional Strategies as part of the Development Plan. The full judgement is available at: British and Irish Legal Information Institute

The Government has announced the introduction of a new Bill planned for later this year, which will abolish the Regional Strategies (see  Abolition of the Regional Strategy and the emerging ‘localism’ agenda). It may, however, take some time to adopt this bill as statutory legislation. Whilst the Secretary of State has written to all local authorities to say that the Government’s future intentions should continue to act as a material consideration, Cala Homes have once again sought to appeal the lawfulness of this letter. This view is largely indicative of the stance of all house builders through the UK, who view the scrapping of housing targets as an impediment to development.

In the interim many local planning authorities are continuing the preparation of their LDFs (Local Development Frameworks), based on the regional growth figures, in anticipation of a protracted period in the lead up to the formal abolition of the regional strategies at some point in the future.

However, many local authorities now feel in a state of flux in relation to strategic policy development, as they are keen to avoid abortive work in light of the current Government’s stated manifesto and the promise of a revamp of the development plan system. For the time being, the growth figures included on our pages (above) are those that were in place prior to the ‘abolition’ of the RSS in July 2010. Due to the uncertainty that currently exists with their status these figures may need to be ‘taken with a pinch of salt’ in the interim – these figures are by no means definite at this stage.

In summary, the picture is left confusingly unclear. CPRE will of course continue to monitor and advise on such matters as and when they are resolved.

 

Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (DPD) Central Bedfordshire (North)

 

As of 1st July 2011, the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document has not yet been submitted.  The Council was aiming for Submission in May 2011 but this has now been delayed. At the moment, the Council has no formal date for the Submission of the document. However they will notify anyone who has commented on the previous consultation document, the Draft Submission, when they do submit.

In addition, no formal timetable has been set for the search for a site or sites to accommodate the 4 pitches defined in Paragraph 7.2 of the Draft Submission document PDF 7.29MB

 

Any site identified will be subject to consultation and anyone who commented previously will be notified of this also. The DPD identifies sites to accommodate 23 pitches, which satisfies accommodation need until the end of 2013. An additional site search will be conducted in advance of the Examination to make proposals for the accommodation of the remaining 4 pitches required to the end of 2015.

CPRE Beds will continue to monitor progress and to support local parishes and representative groups.

 

Bedford Development Framework (BDF)

 

Allocations and Designations Plan

Update October 2011

CPRE Bedfordshire responded to the consultation on the BDF pre-submission Allocations and Designations Plan. We called into question a couple of site allocations which we proposed should be withdrawn from the plan. The first of these was the allocation of new employment land at Medbury Farm near Elstow, which we felt was surplus to requirement in view of other employment land already allocated within the growth area, and undermined policies to prioritise development on suitable previously developed land.

The second of our objections was towards enabling development for Bedford River Valley Park near Willington, which we considered to be contradictory towards the Core Strategy and Rural Issues Plan, in allowing substantial development in the rural area where only very limited development should be considered possible. CPRE Bedfordshire believes that enabling development, if used at all for a public amenity of this nature, should be very limited, and that other funding sources should be considered.

 

Gypsy and Traveller Issues Development Plan Document

 

On 13th July 2011, Bedford Borough Council resolved to split the allocations of Gypsy and Travellers sites from the main body of the emerging Allocations And Designations Plan. Gypsy and Traveller issues will now be considered in a separate development document, whilst the remainder of the Allocations and Designations Plan recently went through consultation, between 30th September and 14th November 2011.

Further information in relation to this and other latest news on the Bedford Development Framework process can be found on Bedford Bourough Council's website under Planning Policy

 

 

 

2011 © Campaign to Protect Rural England County of Bedfordshire Branch Registered Charity 1023435