The proposed development, it is outside the Sandy settlement envelope with much of it on grade 1 or 2 agricultural land; it is opposed by Sandy Town Council and future residents, including those in a proposed care home, would be virtually isolated by the A1 dual carriageway from facilities in Sandy, which would for most practical purposes only be accessible by car.

This application typifies the rash of “hostile”, speculative planning applications currently being seen across Central Bedfordshire, following the collapse of Central Bedfordshire Council’s proposed Local Plan. 

Developers claim CBC doesn’t have a demonstrable five year housing land supply and, consequently, unplanned development outside currently defined settlement envelopes must be allowed to meet housing demand. Most of these are on greenfield sites.