Planning appeal decision
13A High Street, Clapham, MK41 6EQ
Planning appeal 3286731 at 13A High Street, Clapham, MK41 6EQ (Bedford Borough Council) was dismissed on 16 June 2022 by Inspector Couper C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.
a multi-flatted development with extensions and alterations to the existing building and access
- Authority
- Bedford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Couper C
- Postcode
- MK41 6EQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
- Whether or not future occupiers of the proposed flats would experience appropriate living conditions, with particular regard to outlook, noise and disturbance, and the availability of suitable outdoor space
- Whether the proposal would comply with policies which seek to steer new development to areas at lowest risk of flooding
- Whether or not the proposal would make adequate provision for sports and play infrastructure
What decided it
The cumulative harm from poor character and appearance, inadequate living conditions for future occupants, and failure to satisfy the sequential flood risk test outweighed the moderate benefits of the scheme.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 28SPolicy 30Policy 2SPolicy 29Policy 32Policy 92Policy 86SPolicy AD28Policy AD1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 134Paragraph 130Paragraph 167Paragraph 14
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2022
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- Dismissed16 October 2026601330411 Earls Holme, Bedford, MK42 8PG
- Allowed23 September 2026336437644 Portway , Great Denham , Bedford , MK40 4GB
- Allowed21 September 2026337340014 Woodman Way, Wootton, Bedford, MK43 9RX
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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