®Planning appeal decision
Methodist Chapel, Bedford Road, Great Barford, Bedford, MK44 3JJ
change of use of place of worship to Use Class E(a)
- Authority
- Bedford Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- retail · Change of use
- Inspector
- Gilbert J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether having regard to the development plan and national planning policy there is sufficient justification to resist the proposed development on the grounds of an unacceptable loss of a community facility
- The effect of the proposal on highway safety, with particular regard to parking and servicing
What decided it
The absence of evidence demonstrating active marketing of the building as a community facility for at least 12 months at open market value, combined with insufficient evidence that the proposal would not harm highway safety through inadequate parking and servicing arrangements.
Framework references: 88, 113, 115, 116
Plan policies cited: Policy 99 of the Bedford Borough Council Local Plan 2030, Policy CF1 of the Great Barford Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2030, BBCLP Policy 29, BBCLP Policy 31, Parking Standards for Sustainable Communities: Design and Good Practice Interim Policy and Supplementary Planning Document (2014)
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.