Ex-pub in Leighton Buzzard to be converted into 9-room temporary housing for families

The Ashwell Arms at Ashwell Street will become part of Central Bedfordshire Council’s temporary accommodation plans.

The premises will be converted into nine rooms, with a shared kitchen and dining room.

But issues over a wall between the one-time hostelry and a neighbouring property threatened to call time on the scheme by delaying it to a future meeting of the council’s development management committee.

Only the casting vote of the committee chairman Conservative Cranfield and Marston Moretaine councillor Ken Matthews prevented the application being deferred.

Calls for an independent survey to be carried out before councillors reached a decision ended with five votes in favour, five against and three abstentions.

The local authority approved a change of use for the vacant public house site as part of a strategy to provide supported transition housing.

CBC has identified a need for this type of property, which can be vital for families made homeless rather than rough sleepers.

Advice can be given to the occupants over issues such as rent arrears, while they seek a permanent solution to their housing needs.

Leighton-Linslade Town Council made no objections to the project.

The proposals for a house of multiple occupation (HMO) at Ashwell Gateway include an occupancy, management and support plan.

This aim is to reduce the risk of a negative impact on the local community and environment.

Acquiring transitional housing for the homeless avoids CBC having to pay potentially expensive bed and breakfast and private letting accommodation.

The occupants can stay in the temporary housing for up to two years.

The local authority recognises the need for keeping residents close to former support networks, family and services in the Leighton Buzzard area.

Planning officer Peter Vosper said the premises would be run by CBC’s housing team and told councillors the architect’s plans were redrawn after an objection from a resident.

“We’re satisfied they are accurate,” he added.

The neighbour Mark Bradfield described part of the designs as “a false representation of my property”.

Independent Houghton Conquest and Haynes councillor Rebecca Hares warned: “My concern is that if we have a boundary dispute on a CBC application and we haven’t provided the appropriate certificate we would be foolish to decide this.”

Agent Kyle Smart said: “We are not proposing anything which would encroach over the boundary between the two properties.”

Independent Biggleswade South councillor Hayley Whitaker said: “Given it’s a CBC application, I would move to defer this for one round while we have an independent survey done.

“Then we can be 100 per cent sure the plans we’re looking at are 100 per cent accurate.”

But Dunstable Watling councillor Nigel Young explained: “If it’s a boundary dispute, it’s not a planning issue.”

A boundary dispute is a civil matter between the two landowners, according to CBC planning manager John Ellis.

“We don’t have any evidence to say the plans are incorrect,” he said.

Conservative Caddington councillor Kevin Collins called for an informative note to be added, saying: “The risk if those plans are inaccurate lies with the applicant, not the planning committee.”