Consultations on two housing developments and a care home are underway.

Planning applications to build a combined total of 189 homes and a care facility in Shefford have been submitted with Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) currently consulting with residents on both.

The latest involves an outline application to build 49 properties and a care home on agricultural land at Bridge Farm on Ivel Road.

The application put forward by Bovis Homes includes 23 three-bedroom properties, six four-bedrooms properties, eight two-bedrooms properties, four one-bedroom apartments, eight five-bedrooms properties, car parking. Of the 49 homes, 17 would be affordable housing.

The planning document states: “The proposed scheme will not only create jobs and facilitate economic development and growth in the district, it will also positively contribute to meeting the district’s housing need whilst increasing and improving housing choice in the local area.”

A two-storey care home is also proposed for approximately 60 bedrooms with kitchen and laundry facilities, 24 car parking spaces and private garden areas.

The care assessment document provided within the application states that there are 283 care beds within Shefford’s catchment area, with a requirement for a minimum of 231 additional care beds by 2016, increasing to 376 by 2023.

There are currently two care homes on Hitchin Road in Shefford with The Birches providing 31 beds and Wren Park Nursing and Residential Home providing 46.

Bovis Homes had a previous application for the erection of 85 homes at Bridge Farm on Ivel Road granted by CBC in 2012.

The second application to build 140 homes on land off Campton Road was submitted by Catesby Estates to CBC in late May and the public have until Wednesday, July 9, to comment on the proposals.

The potential development would be in the form of two areas of land situated on grassland on either side of Robert Bloomfield Academy, while access to the site for cars to enter would be from Ampthill Road at its junction with Campton Road.

If approved, the plans would see the constructing of 34 two-bedroom properties, 77 three-bedroom properties, 23 four-bedroom properties and six five-bedroom properties. Of the 140 homes, 49 would be affordable housing.

A portion of land would be set aside for Robert Bloomfield Academy to use for football pitches and Section 106 money would be given to the town for community use.

To view either housing application and submit comments go to www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/planning-applications/default.aspx

• Both housing developments are part of CBC’s wider Development Strategy which plans the delivery of 31,000 new homes and 27,000 jobs across the region over a 20-year period from 2011.

The consultation opened on the planning policy document on Monday, and will run until August 26, with background information on the strategy, a summary document and a questionnaire available on www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/development-strategy.aspx