Plans for up to 179 new homes on Bromham farmland north of Northampton Road have been refused by Bedford Borough Council’s planning committee.
This followed strong opposition from residents, councillors and community groups at Monday’s planning meeting (19 January).
The outline application sought permission for a residential development with open space, landscaping and infrastructure on 11 hectares of agricultural land on the edge of the village.
Planning officers had recommended approval, but Bromham residents, the parish council, and ward councillors told the committee the proposal conflicted with the village’s adopted neighbourhood development plan.
“Bromham has done its duty”
One resident, Michael Craddock, told members: “Bromham has done its duty.
“Permission has already been granted for approximately 755 new dwellings in our village, a 30 per cent increase in the size of our village.”
Mr Craddock said the village’s neighbourhood plan was adopted in June 2021.
“[If] approved, the 179 unplanned houses would tell every resident that their voice is worthless,” he said.
Parish councillor Sian Woodfine, chair of Bromham Parish Council, said the neighbourhood plan was “not a suggestion”.
“It is a democratically adopted blueprint for Bromham’s future,” she said.
The applicant’s agent, Richard West, said he understood and acknowledged residents’ concerns.
“But ultimately we are in a housing crisis that’s been set out quite clearly by the government,” he said.
“Unfortunately, there are neighbourhood plan areas that are having to take on a greater amount of growth than anticipated three, four, five years ago when those neighbourhood plans were made.”
Community concerns
Objectors said granting permission would not only undermine local planning democracy, it would lead to overdevelopment in a rural settlement.
Representatives from Bedfordshire Scouts warned the scheme would threaten the future of the Leslie Sell Activity Centre, a long-established woodland campsite next to the proposed site, raising concerns about noise complaints, safeguarding risks and loss of the site’s sense of seclusion.
Concerns were also raised about the nearby Elizabeth Curtis Centre for Riding for the Disabled, with the committee warned that construction and future residential activity could disturb horses used in therapy sessions.
Planning officers advised members that while Bromham’s neighbourhood plan carried significant weight, national policy did not give it an automatic veto.
Rachel Duncan, principal planner at the council, told the committee national planning policy does give additional protection to areas with an up-to-date neighbourhood plan
But the use of the word “likely” in the policy means that conflict on its own with the neighbourhood plan doesn’t necessarily mean that it will demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
“Therefore, we still need to weigh the harms against the benefits.”
Councillor Jane Walker (Conservative, Clapham and Oakley), a substitute member of the committee, said: “The parish council, the residents of Bromham have chosen and picked their sites.
“They’ve gone along with what has been asked, and they, as a villag,e have set out what they want.
“How can you say the benefits outweigh that? The benefits to the village of Bromham are not there.”
After a lengthy debate, committee members rejected officers’ recommendations and voted unanimously to refuse the application.
The refusal was issued on two grounds: conflict with Bromham’s neighbourhood plan and countryside protection policies, and insufficient assessment and mitigation of noise impacts from nearby activities.
The decision blocks the scheme in its current form, though the applicant retains the right to appeal or submit a revised proposal.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
