The report recommends that the Executive adopt the development brief

as technical guidance for development management purposes.

1.      That the Development Brief, Option A, be adopted as technical guidance for development management purposes, as set out at pages 59-74 of the Executive report.

2.      To request that the Directors of Sustainable Communities and Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Members for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development and for Children’s Services, fully investigate all possibilities for alternative pedestrian and highways access to a new Lower School on the site, with the aim of encouraging children to walk to the new school.

Prior to consideration of the report, and in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Public Participation, the Chairman invited 3 speakers to address the Executive.  Members of the public raised comments and concerns, which in summary included the following:-

·              the difficulty that residents of Flitt Leys Close currently experienced as a result of cars parking in front of their houses due to several existing businesses.  This had on occasions led to abusive behaviour towards the residents;

·              the amount of litter that was often present in Flitt Leys Close;

·              the increased risk of accidents involving children who played in the Close;

·              the delivery of  a proposed new lower school would increase the traffic and cause additional parking problems due to the lack of off-road parking; and

·              access into Flitt Leys Close already created a hazard.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development thanked the speakers and acknowledged that the existing parking problems in Flitt Leys Close needed to be resolved.  The issue of traffic flow into Flitt Leys Close would need to be considered once a planning application was submitted and discussed by the Development Management Committee.  The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Services advised that officers were looking into resolving the parking issues in Flitt Leys Close.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development that set out options for the development brief for land rear of Central Garage, Cranfield.  The Executive Member moved revised recommendations, which were duly seconded:-

“1.     That the Development Brief, Option A, be adopted as technical guidance for development management purposes, as set out at pages 59-74 of the Executive report.

2.      To request that the Directors of Sustainable Communities and Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Members for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development and for Children’s Services, fully investigate all possibilities for alternative pedestrian and highways access to a new Lower School on the site, with the aim of encouraging children to walk to the new school.”

Councillor Matthews updated the Executive on the three options being considered by Cranfield Lower School either to remain on the existing site and expand the current school; build a new school with a three form entry; or split the current school over two sites.

Reason for decision:  To meet the housing requirements for Central Bedfordshire (North) for the period up to 2026 as set out in the Core Strategy and Development Management Development Plan Document (adopted November 2009).

RESOLVED

1.      that the Development Brief, Option A, be adopted as technical guidance for development management purposes, as set out at pages 59-74 of the Executive report; and

2.      to request that the Directors of Sustainable Communities and Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Members for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development and for Children’s Services, fully investigate all possibilities for alternative pedestrian and highways access to a new Lower School on the site, with the aim of encouraging children to walk to the new school.