I am aware of the many concerns raised by residents in relation to both of these developments so will focus this report on addressing some of those. As a member of HPC and as a Planning volunteer and Trustee for CPRE I opposed the inclusion of both of these sites in the Local Plan.
However, both of these sites are in the Approved Local Plan – that means that they have permission in principle but still have to receive planning permission in the usual way. The sites will also be required to comply with the CBC Design Guide. This sets out requirements for things like the number of car parking spaces, distance between homes including existing ones and basic room sizes. The plans will not be recommended for approval until and unless the Planning Officer is satisfied that all concerns raised by internal Consultees have been satisfactorily addressed or have been conditioned. Some applications are recommended for withdrawal or refusal if the Planning Officer is not satisfied that the application complies with policy, highway safety etc. In the case of Toddington Road, some stipulations were also made by the Planning Inspectors.
CBC are not required to directly inform all individual residents of the planning applications but had carried out all steps required of them and more in relation to their own duty.
There is a statutory consultation period and the one for Toddington Road was extended until 14th April as changes had been proposed to the original submission. Any further material changes would also be consulted on.
For both developments there is a requirement for the developers to engage with the public and the responses to presentations and consultations would be expected to inform the final application. This does not involve Central Beds Planning Officers. A report on this process, the responses to a presentation and/or consultation and how these have been addressed is sent by the developers to the Planning Officer. The developer may make changes to their original plans in the light of these.
For that reason, the application may well differ from the presentation proposals. In the case of Sundon Road this is an application for Full planning permission, and I am aware that changes have been made to address some of the concerns raised in relation to the height of buildings and proximity to existing homes in Pilgrims Close – the number of homes has also been reduced from the original 154 to 139 to accommodate retention of existing hedgerows within the site and the rearrangement of homes from that originally put forward. I understand that there are now plans to provide a footpath inside the existing line of hedges along Sundon Road to the front of the site.
Full planning applications are a bonus as it is clear what is being proposed. We know that outline planning permission does not always accord with the Reserved Matters application that follows as evidenced by the Station Yard flats.
Bearing that in mind, until we see the RM application for Toddington Road, which must comply with the broad proposals in the approved Development Brief and to any conditions applied at outline stage, as well as policies in the Local Plan – we will not know exactly how this site will be developed beyond the approved red line boundary of the site and the Highways measures required to enable safe access. Section 106 agreements will also be agreed.
I continue to liaise with the planning officer, and I am confident that he is aware of the concerns around these sites and is working to resolve those that can be resolved. He will have read and taken on board the comments of those residents who have responded and will consider whether they are planning issues and/or need to be addressed.
Schools for the Future
I have been advised that the new School in Harlington is intended to be built by CBC but will not be available as a lower school until 2025 and it will later convert to a primary school.
Health provision
I have been advised that the Sundon Park surgery will continue to supply a service from Harlington Surgery and that section 106 is being requested from both development sites in the village to enable the surgery to reconfigure/expand services or re-locate.
CBC Cllr Mary Walsh