The Committee had before it a report regarding Planning Application No. CB/18/01461/FULL for the erection of 16 new lodges with associated parking and access, footpaths and landscaping at Center Parcs Woburn Forest Holiday Village, Fordfield Road, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2GZ.

There were no additional consultation/publicity responses, comments or additional/amended conditions reported in the Late Sheet.

No representations were made under the public participation scheme.

At the request of the Chairman the planning officer responded to the points raised by Steppingley Parish Council as follows:

·         Of the five objections received from Steppingley Parish Council the main objections related to proposed lodges 9 and 10, including the impact of the development on the footpath, light intrusion and the requirement for the demonstration of very special circumstances to enable development in the Green Belt.  With regard to the requirement for very special circumstances the planning officer stated that, because the application was regarded as infill development on previously developed land, it was considered appropriate development in the Green Belt in accordance with paragraph 145(g) of the National Planning Policy Framework.  As such, very special circumstances were not required.

In response to a query from a ward Member regarding the Parish Council’s comments the planning officer stated that, subject to suitable landscaping, he did not believe proposed lodges 9 and 10 would be visible from the existing footpath.  He also stated that the provision of a bund was beyond the scope of the current application.

The Chairman, also commenting as a ward Member, stated that as far as he was aware, the proposals accorded with the existing character of the site and he had no objection.

The Committee considered the application and in summary discussed the following:

·         The requirement to replace any broad leaf trees lost by the development, the need to undertake all possible measures to protect those trees earmarked to be retained and the addition of wording to the proposed conditions so that the landscaping scheme included replacement tree planting.

·         The Parish Council’s policy of there being no street lighting in Steppingley.  The Committee noted that the application site did not lie within the Parish boundary.

·         The possibility of securing an additional financial contribution from the applicant towards possible projects. The planning officer advised that no projects had been identified by spending officers in the consultation process and the size of the application also meant a significant contribution was unlikely. The Chairman suggested that the applicant be requested to voluntarily ‘top up’ the existing contribution sum set out within the S106 Agreement.  The second planning officer stated that he would report back to the Chairman of the Committee, the Executive Member and ward Members, on the outcome of the negotiations.

On being put to the vote 12 Members voted for approval, 0 voted against and 1 abstained.

RESOLVED

1          that Planning Application No. CB/18/01461/FULL relating to Center Parcs Woburn Forest Holiday Village, Fordfield Road, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2GZ be approved as set out in the Schedule attached to these minutes;

2          that the applicant CP Woburn (Operating Company)  Ltd be invited to make a voluntary financial contribution to top up those monies already allocated towards the proposed cycleway as set out within the existing S106 Agreement for this site.