Approval for 42 new homes on Leighton Buzzard Green Belt land

Applicant Resolution Homes was granted planning permission for 42 properties on 2.2 acres of land at The Brambles in Vandyke Road.

The company plans to build 22 flats and 20 houses, with a new access on to Vandyke Road, as well as parking, open space and landscaping.

As a major development in the Green Belt, the proposals were considered by Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee.

“The site is currently occupied by an empty bungalow, kennels and temporary cabins,” explained senior planning officer Caroline Macrdechian.

“There are 12 one-bedroom flats, ten two-bed apartments and the remaining 20 houses.

“Of these, there are four one-bed and four two-bedroom affordable rent properties, four two-bed in shared ownership and a four-bedroom home also at affordable rent.”

The land is close to Vandyke Upper School and the Clipstone Park development in the town.

Conservative Leighton Buzzard South councillors Ray Berry and David Bowater both expressed support for the housing.

“It’s one small piece of land which sits in the middle of everything else,” explained councillor Berry.

“There are areas being developed around it, so I see no reason why this shouldn’t go ahead.”

Independent Linslade councillor Victoria Harvey agreed, saying because of the development on both sides of this site I can see no grounds for refusal.”

Outline permission has been granted for development of the surrounding land for mixed use residential, commercial, retail and community facilities, according to a report to the committee.

“The emerging Central Bedfordshire Local Plan proposes the removal of the entire urban extension from the Green Belt,” said the report.

But Independent Houghton Conquest and Haynes councillor Rebecca Hares said developed areas nearby should not justify a development in the Green Belt.

Independent Tithe Farm councillor Pat Hamill agreed, warning of the need to avoid setting a precedent where “community land being developed around and about” becomes a reason for approval.

“We shouldn’t use that as a reason for a planning gain,” he told the committee.

“The wildlife down there is just fantastic. I can’t understand for the life of me why people want to build in that area.”

Independent Toddington councillor Mary Walsh described it as “a very dense development” in the Green Belt.

“You can’t plant any trees because of this dense layout,” she said.

But councillor Harvey referred to the area being part of the Green Belt review in 2004.

“This urban extension has been planned and discussed for years,” she added.

“It’s not entirely an empty green field. There are sheds and buildings on it.”

The bungalow, kennels and cabins would need to be demolished, added the report.

A previous application for 61 homes on the site was refused in June 2019 because the development was too cramped, creating a poor quality living environment.

Councillors approved the scheme with nine votes in favour, two against and two abstentions.