New Housing - Your Say

Developers plough on with 1,000-home plan  See article

27 May 2008

New plan for 1,000 homes in Linslade   See article

A NEW developer has thrown his hat into the ring with an announcement this week of plans to build 1,000 homes in Linslade.  Paul Newman Homes say their scheme is still in the early stages, but the plan will utilise land west of Derwent Road that is outside the protected Green Belt.  The development would come in addition to the 4,000 homes already being built in south Leighton.

The Countryside behind Bideford Green over Valley Fen is very beautiful and rich in wildlife. Fenland is very rare in Buckinghamshire.  Before the bypass was built there were ancient oak trees and it was a very tranquil and beautiful area. The hedges are full of Greenfinches and Bullfinches as well as many other varieties of bird and animals, including bats.

The fields are full of flowers as Mr Kimble, the Valley Fen farmer, rarely uses herbicides.  Many people regularly walk over this area, in spite of the new bypass cutting through a number of footpaths, and it makes a huge difference to their quality of life. Bats are a protected species under European and British Law. Most biodiversity is in decline, but protected species such as bats are some of the most at risk and that is why they are heavily protected.  It is a criminal offence to disturb a bat roost. In order to do so you have to have a DEFRA licence. The council should grant planning permission only with the full knowledge of the implications on protected species.

TAKE ACTION - Your views count! Write a letter or send an e-mail to local papers or contact Paul Newman Homes (details below)

news@lbcitizen.co.uk

Fred Baron, spokesman for the Milton Keynes-based developers, Paul Newman Homes, said that any infrastructure planned would actually be built as part of the package. He told Leighton Buzzard Observer: "Other developers claim to provide infrastructure when what they're actually doing is nothing more than reserving land for a medical centre etc. If we say we are providing a medical centre – and that part of Linslade is in need of improved medical and dental services – then we will actually put up the building. We have had quite a lot of feedback from the public and local residents and we welcome their involvement. We're planning an exhibition some time in the next few weeks to let the public see what we'd like to do."

Anyone wanting to comment or get information about the plan can contact Fred Baron 0207 357 6606 or by email fred.baron@localdialogue.com

Your chance to really influence the changes in Leighton

The government plans require 26,000 new houses in Leighton-Linslade, Luton, Dunstable and Houghton Regis before 2021, with more to follow before 2031. Major fears are that the new houses will be built without the necessary supporting infrastructure, much local countryside will be lost for ever and our roads will become ever more congested.

South Beds Council is currently drawing up a new local plan that will shape the future of all planning aspects of Leighton, including housing. Green belt land will lose its protection so that thousands more homes can be built around the town.
These plans will either restore Leighton Buzzard or destroy it.  SBFoE accept that some limited development could generate better bus services and new leisure facilities but we believe the numbers being discussed are excessive and we are strongly opposed to the 43,000 houses in South Bedfordshire, as these numbers are beyond our environmental limits.

In a recent statement, Tom Nicols, South Beds Council portfolio holder for planning and development said: "We encourage constructive guidance and would welcome input on both unsuitable and suitable sites for new housing. The government has the power to enforce the number of new houses but any developer with ambitions to build in the area will have to work within our Local Development Framework."

see South Beds Council LDF guide

This should be about you & your concerns about the future of Leighton, or things you really love about the town and you'd miss the most.

Consider what moves could be taken to improve the town and, if time allows, explain why.

Write about as many issues as you wish.

It is important to make the letters we send as individual as possible, which is why we haven't gone for a 'cut & paste' approach. Please set aside a few minutes to write and use the following suggestions if needed.

Letters in by Christmas for build-in to LDF which will be published early next year.

E-mail your letter to Sara Kennedy or post to:

Sara Kennedy, Community Involvement Officer

South Bedfordshire District Council
The District Offices
High Street North
Dunstable
Bedfordshire LU6 1LF

What do you like about Leighton Buzzard? List the qualities you most enjoy about the town and air concerns about the likely irreparable damage.

What do you value about life in Leighton? Are you already saddened by changes which you can only imagine will get worse?

Do you feel there is a strong sense of community, and would this be destroyed by huge development?

• Congestion management/Traffic lights

• School run - should schools have supervised drop-off & collection points

• Improved, regular or evening bus services

• Free parking in town

• Lower business rates for town centre trade

• Cottage Hospital

• Safer pavements & cycle-ways

• Leisure facilities for children & teens

• A new cinema

• Green spaces; parks & playing fields

Inform the council of your wishes to be consulted and involved in the consultation process.

The following are Friends of the Earth policies which ideally we would all like to see improvements on, or policies written up in the Local Development Framework:

• Energy efficiency

• Renewable energy

• Carbon neutral housing

• Investment in rail, buses & cycle-ways and cuts in roads budget

• Food waste & glass (more recyclables) collection

• Protection of green spaces, parks and wildlife habitat

• Local produce and better range of shops to keep people shopping in town