Planning and Development - contact Mike Hitchcock on 01234 762610 or mike.hitchcock@marstonvale.org
The Forest of Marston Vale aims to maximise the benefits for environmental regeneration and the local community from development which is planned in the Marston Vale and surrounding area. The Forest is consulted on development briefs and plans and the Forest's position is to remain generally neutral on development proposals.
In seeking benefits from development, the Forest's overall driver is to create quality green space in partnership with the local community that will result in us achieving our 30% woodland cover by 2030. The Planning Authorities and developers are key to this process and careful negotiation and understanding by all parties will result in the environmental regeneration of the Marston Vale.
Planning Policies
East of England Plan RRS14 - Policies ENV1 and ENV5
Bedfordshire County Council - Structure Plan Policies 16 & 17
Bedfordshire County Council - Minerals & Waste Plan Policy GE1
Bedford Borough Council - Local PLan Policies S5, NE21, NE22 & NE23
Mid Bedfordshire District Council - Local Plan Policies LSS4A, CS5 & CS6
How has this worked in practice?
There is a growing recognition amongst policy makers and developers that well planned development also requires quality ‘green infrastructure’ that creates a breathing space for new and existing communities to relax, enjoy and recreate in. Natural space for wildlife and people to thrive. The Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan has lead the way in setting the requirements for the creation of quality greenspace near to communities.
The Forest of Marston Vale has had success in negotiating with the Planning Authorities and Developers to fund the creation of new community woodlands in the Marston Vale as illustrated in the following case studies:
Residential developments
Site name |
Site area |
Number of dwellings |
Contribution to Forest |
Land West of Kempston |
59.5 hectares |
1200 by David Wilson Homes |
30 year lease of 25 hectares of land to increase the area of Bedford's Green Gateway and a cash contribution of £356,000 for woodland creation |
Land north and South of Fields Rd, Wootton |
35 hectares |
1000 (Old Road Securities) |
40 hectares of new community woodland created (Berry Wood) - created in 1996 |
Land East of Marston Moretaine |
26.7 hectares |
480 (O&H Properties) |
240 hectares for the creation of the Millennium County Park - created in 1999/2000 |
Land at Stewartby |
12.85 |
600 (O&H Properties) |
240 hectares for the creation of the Millennium County Park - created in 1999/2000 |
Land off Marston Rd, Lidlington |
8.1 hectares |
72 by David Wilson Homes |
£70,000 for the delivery of community woodland on 3 hectares of land leased for 30 years - Planted by the local community on 3/12/06 |
RAF Cardington |
42.2 hectares |
970 dwellings by Bellway Homes |
£45,000 contribution towards the creation of off-site community woodland |
Home Farm, Cranfield |
16.5 hectares |
388 dwellings by Persimmon Homes |
Currently under negotiation |
Lower Shelton farm |
0.6 hectares |
20 homes |
£15,000 contribution towards offsite woodland creation at Rectory Farm, Cranfield - delivered natural regeneration scheme at Strawberry Hill, Cranfield in 2005. |
3, High Street, Houghton Conquest |
0.38 hectares |
11 dwellings |
£9,900 contribution towards offsite woodland creation |
| Leathern Bottel, Cranfield |
0.61 hectares |
22 dwellings by Bloor Homes Ltd. |
£18,900 contribution towards
offsite woodland creation at
Rectory Farm, Cranfield |
Commercial Developments
Site name |
Site area |
Development |
Contribution to Forest |
Marsh Leys distribution centre |
31 hectares |
3 logistics distribution centres for Asda, Argos and Woolworths |
£65,000 to deliver community woodland on 8 hectares of land leased for 125 years (created in 2001/02) and an additional 11 hectares of land gifted for future woodland creation - to be planted in February 2007 and known as Wiles Wood. |
Kempston Hardwick |
11 hectares |
British Car Auctions Site |
£70,000 for the creation of 4 hectares of new community woodland - used to create The Kill at Kempston Wood End in December 2006. |
Minerals & Waste Applications
Site name |
Site area |
Proposal |
Contribution to Forest |
Elstow Rail Head |
0.9 hectares |
Installation of a new coated road stone plant by Lafarge |
£10,894 towards offsite woodland creation - contributed towards the creation of Conquest Community Woodland in 2004 |
Green Lane, Stewartby |
2.5 hectares |
To make current temporary waste transfer site permanent |
£43,415 contribution towards
woodland creation in Bedford's
Green Gateway |
Brogborough Landfill Site |
70 hectares |
to extend life of site from 01/08 to 12/08
Refused by Planning Inspectorate 18/12/06 |
£200,000 contribution plus additional 9 hectares of planting on site as part of amended restoration scheme |
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