Planning appeal decision
109 Bedford Road, Bedford , Bedfordshire, MK44 3PR
Planning appeal 3318305 at 109 Bedford Road, Bedford , Bedfordshire, MK44 3PR (Bedford Borough Council) was dismissed on 17 October 2023 by Inspector Townend K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development is in an appropriate location given the settlement strategy.
the change of use from storage area to hand car wash
- Authority
- Bedford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Townend K
- Postcode
- MK44 3PR
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development is in an appropriate location given the settlement strategy
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The proposal fails to comply with the settlement strategy by locating a use that could be provided within a settlement in the countryside, and the bright green car wash structures would harmfully urbanise the rural character of the area.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 3SPolicy 7SPolicy 75Policy 28SPolicy 29Policy 30Policy W1Policy W9
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 85
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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- 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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