Central Beds Council has turned down another controversial planning application in Potton – this time for 80 houses on the west side of Sutton Road, near the top of Bury Hill.
The proposal had attracted more than 50 individual objections and CBC had also received two public petitions in objection, totalling more than 1,200 signatures, after residents went door to door to bring attention to the application.
CBC says it is an ‘unsustainable’ development given its lack of links to the town centre and has also cited the development’s negative impact on the character and appearance of the area given it is in open countryside.
Independent Central Beds councillor Adam Zerny, said “This result is a huge tribute to the hard work of all the local residents who wrote to the council and took many long hours gathering signatures for the petitions.
“Well done all involved, you know who you are.”
Construction work is set to begin on the next phase of Bellway Homes’ Ivel Manor development in Biggleswade.
The developer is set to build 120 new homes in phase two of the scheme, which is located to the west of phase one, on land north of Potton Road.
The second phase of Ivel Manor is part of a wider 227-home scheme which was jointly submitted by Bellway and Bloor Homes, and which received planning permission in April.
Chris Edginton, sales and marketing director for Bellway said: “As well as delivering much-needed new housing for the area, the development will also provide a significant investment in local education, healthcare and sporting facilities, in addition to the transport improvements funded as part of the first phase of the scheme.”
Financial contributions being provided through the planning agreement for the development include £2.2 million for local schools, £199,476 towards a proposed Biggleswade hub for health facilities, and £76,333 towards a 3G playing pitch in the town.
Construction work is now nearing completion on phase one of Ivel Manor, at which Bellway is building 154 homes.
The council’s draft Local Plan showing where CBC wants to build houses in the next 15 years, will also be released in the coming weeks.
It comes amid much opposition from residents and many town councillors to further housing development in the area.
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