Housing plan for Leighton Buzzard High Street rejected

A housing project which could be detrimental to the future development of land south of the High Street in Leighton Buzzard has been refused, against a planning officer’s recommendation to approve it.

Applicant Ian Dillamore submitted full plans for six one-bedroom apartments with a courtyard on the site, according to a report to Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee.

It would involve demolishing the former telephone exchange building and the back of 46 High Street to build three one-bed mews houses and two one-bedroom flats, while converting the first floor area behind number 46 into an extra one-bed flat, said the report.

“The current retail floorspace would be reduced in size, but a shop front retained on to the High Street.

“This site is within the primary shopping area and the designated town centre boundary for Leighton Buzzard. It’s also in the Leighton conservation area, while 46 High Street is a Grade II listed three-storey building.

“The sections at the back of the building are either single storey or two storeys, with offices provided on upper floors. All buildings are used for retail, except the old telephone exchange.

“The development brief for land south of the High Street provides a framework for mixed-use development, with new connectivity around the town centre. A secondary pedestrian route is proposed which would run through the application site.”

Senior planning officer Caroline Macrdechian told the committee that land south considerations would be reported back to CBC’s executive at a date to be decided.

“The development brief for land south was adopted in 2012,” she said. “A furniture unit occupies the ground floor, with an office use at first floor. The old telephone exchange building is used for storage by Dillamore’s Furnishers and as an informal storage place for the market traders.”

Having called in the application and before leaving the council chamber, Independent Leighton Linslade West councillor Victoria Harvey warned: “This is premature because CBC is reconsidering land south of the High Street. It risks losing an amazing opportunity and an exciting piece of our heritage, which could attract many people into the town and keep Leighton Buzzard as a vibrant town centre.”

Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade North David Bligh suggested the site should be considered for leisure purposes, such as a history society or art group, if no proven retail use exists after marketing it.

“It’s a development in too small a space, with no parking and with a lack of access for vehicles generally,” he explained. “It may cause other social problems in the future should the issue of access to Duncombe Drive arise. I would view this as windfall and I think it’s overdevelopment in a very narrow corridor. The site’s undoubtedly of historical interest.”

Conservative Shefford councillor Tony Brown said: “From what I saw on the site visit, this would be a big improvement. There’s no reason to open it up as a pedestrian throughway because there are (other) alleyways through to the High Street from the area which could become land south.”

Councillors rejected the plans because of overdevelopment, prematurity and backland development.