An objector has questioned the purpose of local planning policies after an application for up to 27 homes on land south of Keeley Lane in Wootton was submitted to Bedford Borough Council.
A comment published on the planning portal said: “This development is not in the adopted development plan, what is the point of plan if ignored! [sic]”
The comment added that there are already 40 new homes “already in process” and there are “already access problems”.
They raised concerns about flooding risk, loss of ridge-and-furrow land, potential impacts on wildlife, and increased congestion near a Grade II-listed property.
The application’s planning statement acknowledged that the site is not allocated in the adopted development plan.
However, the developer says Bedford Borough currently cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land, with a quoted figure of 3.35 years.
This, they said, means that the national planning policy’s presumption in favour of sustainable development applies.
The application is for up to 27 homes, including 30% affordable housing, together with more than one hectare of “publicly accessible open space”.
It also says the site is in a sustainable location within walking distance of services and bus routes, and that flood risk assessments found the land to be at low risk, with mitigation proposed through sustainable drainage measures.
A separate design document stated that the “best-preserved” ridge-and-furrow earthworks on the western part of the site would be retained within the layout.
More information can be found on the council’s planning portal, reference 26/00504/MAO.
The overall consultation expiry date is Friday, 15 May 2026.
By John Guinn,
Local Democracy Reporter
