Land West of Wood Lane, Wood Lane, Willington , Bedford, MK44 3PP

the change of use of buildings from agricultural use to use classes E(g)(iii) (Industrial Processes) and B8 (Storage and Distribution); associated external refurbishment, formation of car parking, alteration of access and works within the highway

Authority: Bedford Borough Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector: Murray D

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the principle of development is acceptable
The effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring residential properties
The effect on highway safety
The effect on protected species
Whether sufficient tree coverage to contribute to the Forest of Marston Vale

What decided it

The proposal would have a significant adverse effect on highway safety due to substandard visibility at the A603 junction and inadequate space in Wood Lane for safe HGV passing, conflicting with Policies 31 and 75(viii) of the development plan.

Framework references: 85, 99

Plan policies cited: Policy 7S, Policy 65, Policy 75, Policy 31, Policy 32, Policy 47S, Policy 36S

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

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