A development of 149 homes has been proposed for two fields on the northern edge of a village between Shefford and Hitchin.

The planning application to Central Bedfordshire Council from developers Bloor Homes proposes a new estate in Lower Stondon, accessed using a new junction on the site of 133 and 135 Station Road – which would be demolished to make way.

The Bloor planning statement says there would be 55 four-bedroom houses, 47 with three bedrooms and 39 with two – including six bungalows. Eight one-bedroom flats complete the planned scheme.

The council has so far recorded 23 comments on the application, of which 22 have been objections.

Paul Newell, of Lower Stondon, told the Comet that the scale of the proposed development seemed impractical.

He said: “I can’t believe with all the congestion and current development this could even be considered.”

The site is mostly on greenfield land, and is adjacent to but beyond the defined settlement envelope for Lower Stondon.

In support of its application, the developers identify 29 greenfield sites adjacent to settlement boundaries included in Central Beds Council’s five-year housing trajectory in October – including 227 homes off Potton Road in Biggleswade, and 119 off Campton Road in Shefford.

The Bloor planning statement indicates that the developers intend to negotiate a section 106 agreement to provide funds in areas like education, play areas, transport and community facilities in Lower Stondon.

As the site is within a landscape of archaelogical activity, the application is supported by a report evaluating the site’s historic environment.

The report’s authors conclude: “There is one non-designated heritage asset within the site with the potential to contribute to an increased understanding of settlement nucleation and dispersal patterns at the local and county level in the late Iron Age or Roman-British periods.

“However, the heritage asset is not considered of national importance and therefore is considered not to compromise the concept of sustainable development on the site.”

Comments on the plan must be received by Monday, February 12. Email comments to planning@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, or make representations online using the planning portal at centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. Use reference CB/18/00181/FULL.