Plans to create 4,500 jobs and provide up to 5,000 homes between Bedford and Milton Keynes – along with two other projects – will have “a crushing impact” on the Forest of Marston Vale, a meeting heard.
The mixed development on 1,448 acres of land between Brogborough, Lidlington and Marston Moretaine has been approved by Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee.
Applicant O and H Properties Limited submitted outline proposals for schools, a surgery, retail, leisure, and community facilities, with access routes and other infrastructure.
Read: 5,000-home Marston Vale scheme edges toward green light after eight years
Principal planning officer Stuart Robinson told the committee, “storage and distribution aren’t part of this application,” saying: “This site was allocated for 5,000 homes in the CBC Local Plan 2021, and a development brief was adopted in 2022.
“It’s a 20 to 25-year development period, so would be phased throughout. The site contains three country wildlife sites, including one at Brogborough Lake and one at Lidlington Pit.”
Conservative Cranfield and Marston Moretaine cllr Sue Clark and ward colleague Robert Morris set out their concerns to the committee ahead of the meeting, describing the highways aspects as “still fundamentally flawed”.
She told the meeting development consent for Universal Studios “didn’t take account of Marston Valley” and vice versa, adding: “The strategic network has to work.
“By the time Universal Studios is added into the mix, we don’t know what will happen because that traffic modelling work hasn’t been done.
“The fundamental flaw remains the inadequate east to west access across this site, from the C94 to the A507. We’ve always asked for a road. I’m sure we’re not getting it.
“The other developments in the area, Universal and East West Rail (EWR), will also have such a crushing impact on the Marston Vale. I really doubt the ambitious vision and concept of something really special in the Forest will be achieved.”
‘Flitwick-sized town’
Independent Cranfield and Marston Moretaine cllr Saverio Bongo explained: “I support the objections made by the (12) parish councils and of residents.
“It’s not four villages as the applicant has promoted, but a new town the size of Flitwick. With the advent of Universal Studios and EWR, the traffic modelling is no longer appropriate.
“The village roads simply cannot cope. Universal will account for eight million visitors a year, which certainly wasn’t on the minds of O and H when it thought about traffic movements.”
Read: Traffic fears as impact of Universal and East West Rail on Marston Vale not fully analysed
Pippa Cheetham, from Varsity Town Planning, for O and H Properties, said: “The housing trajectory for Marston Valley has been agreed by officers and tested by the planning inspectorate.
“It could deliver housing within the next five years, while representing 25 per cent of the homes needed during the current Local Plan period.”
Stantec transport planning discipline lead Leigh Stolworthy confirmed: “The traffic impact of Universal Studios has been considered as far as possible, with the information available.
“This scheme delivers junction improvements, a new internal spine road and village relief measures. Public transport is embedded from the outset, with new bus services designed to grow.”
GP surgery included
Planning consultant at Stantec, Andrew Winter, suggested: “These proposals will make a huge contribution to the council’s housing supply and the local economy.
“This balances housing delivery with employment, generating 4,500 jobs and a range of high-quality job opportunities, in retail, education and office, as well as construction.
“We’ve offered fifteen-and-a-half per cent or 775 affordable properties across the whole site. New facilities to benefit residents include a GP surgery, four local centres and £73.5m towards highway infrastructure.
“There’s £89m for education, a library space, indoor and outdoor sport elements, and open space provision. These will support sustainable phased delivery of the site.”
By Euan Duncan,
Local Democracy Reporter.
