A decision for a Wilstead planning application has been deferred again.
The plans to build up to 95 new homes returned to Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Committee that took place on Monday night (16 June).
The committee was reminded that at May’s meeting members “were minded” to grant planning permission, subject to further negotiations including a review of the requested healthcare contribution.
The committee was told the healthcare contribution request had been adjusted to reflect an evidenced build cost figure.
Jonathan Warner, a council planning officer, said the £7,500 per square metre rate submitted by Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) lacked sufficient evidence.
Therefore, borough council officers adopted a rate of £4,267 per square metre (as of January 2025), calculated by inflating a 2014 Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) figure.
“This rate will then be index-linked going forward,” Mr Warner said.
“This build cost is being applied to all relevant developments within the borough for consistency purposes.”
Cllr Martin Towler (Conservative, Riseley) said, “Can we ask the ICB why they haven’t supplied the evidence?
“Obviously if they’re asking for 7,000 [sic], we all know healthcare is very expensive.
“Wixams definitely needs a surgery and it’s unfortunate when we build houses, we only give them £4,000 a house instead of seven,” he said.
Mr Warner replied the ICB has been asked “over several months, maybe years” to provide the justification.
“Until that is provided in terms of actual build costs that justify that high rate, we’ve consistently gone with the lower rates,” he said.
Sam Fox, priority projects consultant, said it was a “source of frustration” that the council hasn’t been given the evidence by the ICB.
“We have actually got a meeting with them this week on that very matter, so we’ll be pressing that,” he said.
“We do know it’s urgent and that’s why we’ve escalated it.”
Cllr Towler suggested that delaying the decision by requesting a site visit may mean it would be possible to increase the amount for the health service.
Mr Fox said he couldn’t guarantee a resolution to the health contribution following this meeting.
The other conditions highlighted were securing bungalows as part of the development and a potential contribution towards additional average speed cameras.
The committee was told that following a traffic survey there is “no severe highway safety concern” to justify requiring a financial contribution for average speed cameras.
Cllr Leigh Coombs (Lib Dem, Shortstown) said he was “blown away” that drivers were “behaving themselves” when the survey was taking place.
“Could we have a look at the speed camera situation so that I could fully get that into my head,” he said.
“So maybe it would be prudent to delay for a site visit.”
After none of the committee members were willing to propose that planning permission was granted, the committee then voted for a site visit.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
