Village restaurant’s pergoda plan sparks debate on when street parking becomes a ‘nuisance’
Local Democracy Reporter
Concerned residents objected when they found that a restaurant in Wood End, near Kempston had applied to build a pergola for 40 customers. Among their concerns were that even more customers would park outside their homes in Tithe Road, to use the Cross Keys...
In the first of a series of articles on the Oxford-Cambridge Arc (OxCam Arc), the Bedford Independent looks at the impact it could have on Bedford Borough’s economy...
Bromham Parish Councillors ‘shocked’ as new doctor’s surgery approved for Biddenham
Local Democracy Reporter
A plan for a new doctors’ surgery and care home in Biddenham to replace two part-time surgeries in Bromham has been approved despite objections...
Controversial plans for a hot food takeaway in a Bedford borough village hinge on whether officers at the council can reach an acceptable legal agreement...
Villages being ‘savaged’ by developers as more houses given planning permission
Local Democracy Reporter
Bedford’s villages are being “savaged” by developers who are exploiting a massive breach in the borough’s planning defences.
“I will be unforgiving if another hurdle is placed in our way” says PCC over Greyfriars sale
Local Democracy Reporter
A “laser like focus” will be directed at a local authority in the weeks ahead over the sale and redevelopment of a former Bedfordshire police station. Planning permission was granted by Bedford Borough Council for a change of use for the Greyfriars site...
A village pub near Bedford cannot be turned into a house, a planning inspector has ruled. Even though the Royal George in High Street, Stagsden, was unviable from 2012 to 2015, inspector Rachel Walmsley...
You may be the jewel in the crown but your lorries are ‘devastating’, councillor tells science park
Local Democracy Reporter
A councillor made a passionate plea for his colleagues to vote against a plan that would “devastate” Sharnbrook. The owners of Colworth Science Park to the west of the village had applied to Bedford Borough Council to build an advanced manufacturing facility and a brand new national...
Bedford Borough Council costs order after “unreasonable” planning decision delay
Local Democracy Reporter
A Government inspector has ordered Bedford Borough Council to pay costs after “unreasonable” delays in making a planning decision. Dominic Batchelor was so fed up with waiting for...
Office-to-flat conversion plan appeal rejected over ‘poor living standards’
Local Democracy Reporter
A planning inspector has thrown out a developer’s attempt to convert offices to flats on the basis that they would create poor living standards. Inspector Andrew Smith also rejected Homelink Properties’ argument that Bedford Borough Council had...
Councillors have been invited to have another go at making a planning decision that was already on the brink of being signed off. Bedford Borough Council’s lawyers have advised the planning...
Bedford Borough reinforcements arrive to tilt the balance as opening shots are fired in village’s planning battle
Local Democracy Reporter
Reinforcements from the council have arrived just in time for the opening of a public inquiry into plans to build up to 80 new homes in Bromham...