Policy information sourced from the Central Befordshire Local Plan

SA4: East of Biggleswade Garden Community

Land to the East of Baden Powell Way, as identified on the Policies Map, is allocated for a new, standalone mixed-use Garden Village consisting of approximately 1,500 dwellings and associated uses.

Development proposals will be permitted where the principles set out below are met. These principles will be defined in more detail through the preparation of a Development Brief which will include a concept plan and an indicative phasing plan. Planning permission will only be granted for development following the Council’s endorsement of this Development Brief. A site wide Design Code will also be required, followed by area specific Design Codes for each phase, to be prepared by the developer and approved by the Council.

In order to ensure the development will be supported by the local and strategic infrastructure needed to ensure sustainable development, the Council will refuse any piecemeal planning permission that would undermine the Council’s ability to deliver such infrastructure.

The principles of the development are:

  1. The development will form a well-designed, sustainable Garden Village that will provide a mix of uses necessary to achieve a sustainable and vibrant standalone community, including:
    • Approximately 1,500 homes with an appropriate balance and mix of residential accommodation to meet identified needs, which shall include subject to viability, a policy compliant mix of affordable housing, self/custom build plots and a mix of homes to meet all identified needs for older people;
    • Provision of a commensurate financial contribution towards the delivery of a health and social care hub to serve the health and social care needs of the development,
    • Provision of new community facilities in accordance with Policy HQ3, a mix of retail and at least one drinking establishment to serve the existing and new community’s everyday needs;
    • Educational facilities, comprising day nurseries, early years, new school(s) for primary aged children to meet the identified needs of the development (or equivalent facilities to meet the educational and childcare needs arising from the development) and financial contributions towards the provision, improvement, enlargement or enhancement of schools for secondary aged children and sixth form facilities off-site to meet the identified needs of the development (or equivalent contributions towards projects to meet the educational needs arising from the development); and
    • Provision of leisure facilities, including:
      1. Indoor sport and leisure facilities, in accordance with Policy HQ4; and
      2. Outdoor sport, leisure and open space, in accordance with Policy EE13
  2. The development will provide appropriate vehicular access to the existing highway network. The following access points are identified on the Policies Map, and at least two of these routes will be required to serve the development:
    • Baden Powell Way, with a new roundabout at the junction with Frankel Way;
    • Baden Powell Way, connecting to the existing roundabout at the junction with Planets Way;
    • Baden Powell Way, with a new roundabout between Planets Way and Venus Avenue; and
    • Dunton Lane, via a new access road and new roundabout.
  3. The development will provide dedicated and safe pedestrian and cycle links from the new and existing neighbourhoods to local centres, employment opportunities, schools, shops and community facilities; both within the allocation and the wider area;
  4. The development will maximise opportunities to create multi-functional Green Infrastructure, including:
    • A parkland corridor to the west of the site to achieve the objectives of the Biggleswade Green Wheel and the provision of public open space as an extension to the Biggleswade Common. This Green Corridor will be of a scale commensurate to the Biggleswade Common with substantial wet woodland planting, rough grassland and scrub, complementary to Biggleswade Common whilst providing significant mitigation to the inter-visibility between the built development within the allocation site and Biggleswade;
    • Landscaping and habitat linkages following the northern boundary of the site allocation, extending from the boundary of the site adjoining Biggleswade Common and towards Dunton Fen as well as substantial soft landscaping to be provided along the eastern and southern boundaries of the site to mitigate visual impacts on the landscape and the setting of heritage assets.
  5. The development will provide appropriate mitigation, compensation and/or enhancement of key features of biodiversity including but not limited to, identified protected species and priority habitats;
  6. The development will ensure that the design and construction of the development as a whole has no undue impact on the landscape and biodiversity and provides for the mitigation and enhancements where feasible;
  7. The site is in an area with a rich and varied historic environment and it is known to contain non-designated heritage assets with archaeological interest. Parts of the site are within the wider setting of designated heritage assets including:
    • Newton Bury Moat (Scheduled Monument);
    • Stratton Moat (Scheduled Monument); and c. Sunderland Hall Farmhouse (Grade II listed building)
  8. Any future development at this site must ensure it accords with the Historic Environment policies of this Plan (HE1, HE2 and HE3) and the requirements of the NPPF. Specific mitigation measures will be identified through the Design Coding process. Where preservation in situ of archaeological remains within areas of open space is proposed, any landscaping schemes will be designed to ensure that there is no damage to the heritage assets with archaeological interest;
  9. The development will be designed to ensure that uses and developments within the site that are vulnerable to flood risk are located beyond areas of flood zones 2 and 3. Safe access and egress shall be provided taking into account flood risk at the site;
  10. Subject to the findings of a site-specific flood risk assessment the development shall deliver strategic measures to reduce flood risk including the use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) to attenuate and discharge surface water run-off at least at a rate no greater than if the site were undeveloped and to reduce existing downstream risk;
  11. The development will integrate and connect to existing public Rights of Way within and adjoining the site to provide routes to the wider countryside and neighbouring settlements. The development shall include pedestrian and cycleway connections to Biggleswade town centre including any highway crossings;
  12. The development will be phased in accordance with the timing of supporting infrastructure and community facilities including the delivery of a comprehensive scheme of highway improvement works required to mitigate impacts on road and/or junction capacities;
  13. The development will provide other supporting transport infrastructure, including proposals to mitigate the impact of traffic associated with the development, including providing for efficient public transport routes and contribution towards public transport services through the development that link with key destinations including Biggleswade train station and Biggleswade town centre;
  14. The Transport Assessment will additionally need to consider the cumulative impacts of planned development in northern Hertfordshire and identify any required mitigation measures. Appropriate contributions will be secured through legal agreements in accordance with Policy HQ2;
  15. Foul drainage from the development shall be connected to the mains sewerage network. The development shall demonstrate that there is adequate capacity in water recycling centre (sewage treatment works) and the foul sewerage network to serve the proposed development and that it will not have an adverse impact on surface or ground water in terms of quality and quantity. Any application for planning permission shall detail any infrastructure upgrades where required and any necessary phasing arrangements as agreed by the relevant Water and Sewerage Company;
  16. The development will provide appropriate landscaping measures to create a sense of place, provide a net gain for biodiversity and shall mitigate the potential impact of development on the wider landscape; and
  17. The development will incorporate measures to adapt to climate change, minimise energy use and include renewable energy technologies in accordance with policies CC1, CC2, CC3 and CC5, and any other relevant policies in the Plan.

For more information, please visit the Central Befordshire Local Plan