Methodist Chapel, Bedford Road, Great Barford, Bedford, MK44 3JJ

Planning appeal 3351327 at Methodist Chapel, Bedford Road, Great Barford, Bedford, MK44 3JJ (Bedford Borough Council) was dismissed on 7 February 2025 by Inspector Gilbert J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: 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.

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
Postcode: MK44 3JJ

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.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy 99 of the Bedford Borough Council Local Plan 2030Policy CF1 of the Great Barford Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2030BBCLP Policy 29BBCLP Policy 31Parking Standards for Sustainable Communities: Design and Good Practice Interim Policy and Supplementary Planning Document (2014)
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 88Paragraph 113Paragraph 115Paragraph 116

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.

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The decision letter

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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.