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The Planning Committee considers and deals with all planning matters appertaining to the parish of Arlesey.
Minutes of Planning Committee meetings for the last six months can be obtained by clicking on the links on the left. Minutes older than six months can be viewed at Arlesey Resource Centre.
Explaining Planning The planning system in Mid Bedfordshire is split into two parts;
Most development needs to have planning permission before it can be carried out. This is obtained by making a planning application. Each application is made on specific forms and the proposals will normally be shown on plans drawn to scale. Planning applications are the most common type of application, however other types of applications are Listed Building Consent, Advert Consent and Conservation Area Consent.
This sets out the policies, which must be taken into account when considering planning applications. It identifies where new developments can occur, and those areas where new building is being restrained. More details about the Local Plan and the opportunities for residents to influence it may be obtained from Mid Bedfordshire District Council. Mid Bedfordshire’s Planning RoleMid Beds is the “Local Planning Authority”, which means that it deals with most of the planning applications in the area and prepares the Local Plan for Mid Bedfordshire. The planning system in Mid Beds is managed by the elected District Councillors. They are supported by a team of planning officers who are based at the Biggleswade offices. The officers are split into two teams, one covering the east side of the District and the other covering the west. A few applications – those concerning minerals excavation and waste disposal – are dealt with by the County Council in Bedford. If an application is made very near to or affecting your property, you will receive a letter from Mid Beds telling you about it. Where it is not clear who all of the adjoining owners are, notices are put up at application sites giving details of what is proposed. In some cases a site notice is put up and an advertisement in a local newspaper is inserted giving details of applications. Mid Bedfordshire produce a weekly list of all the applications that they have received. This list can be viewed at council offices, local libraries and at www.midbeds.gov.uk You could even have the list sent to you direct each week although this will cost £95.50 per year (prices subject to revision). To find out more about a particular application you can visit the council offices at Biggleswade and look at the plans and any other information that has been put in. Applications for the west side of the District can also be viewed at the Ampthill offices. The Biggleswade office is at 23 London Road and the Ampthill office is at 12 Dunstable Street. Both offices are open between 8.45 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45 am to 4.00 pm on Fridays. Plans that fall within the area of Arlesey may also be viewed at the Arlesey Town Council Offices. This office is open from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon from Monday to Thursday. On the first and third Tuesday of each month, planning meetings are held in the Village Hall at which the Town Council discuss the merits of each application and make a recommendation to Mid Beds District Council. For details of what is to be discussed in each meeting please look at the Town Council Notice board outside the Village Hall or have a look at this web site to see the Agendas for up and coming meetings. How do you comment?If you want to comment on an application you should do so in writing. Address your letter to the Head of Planning Services at 23 London Road, Biggleswade Beds SG18 8ER. All comments are always taken into account, however a decision may be made that does not support your comments. Contentious applications are sometimes taken to a Development Control meeting, and you will be informed of this if you have already written to the Head of Planning. You are entitled if you wish to speak at this meeting (Mid Beds have a leaflet entitled ‘Speaking at Planning Meetings’ which provides further information). When making a decision concerning an application, the only matters that can be taken into account are proper planning matters. The main ones are; 1. Amenity – impact on neighbours, overlooking, loss of daylight, overbearing impact, noise and disturbance, pollution etc. 2. Design – impact on building, site, street scene etc. Visual impact – is it in keeping with the surrounding area? 3. Highways – suitability of access, parking, manoeuvring space, effect of traffic generation. 4. Policies – are there any government policies or policies in the County Structure Plan or Mid Beds Local Plan which are relevant. 5. History – any previous permissions on the site or nearby. There are many other issues that can be taken into account, but there are a few which normally should not be; 1. The personal circumstances of the applicant. 2. The intended user of the development – it is the use not the user which is important. 3. Whether the applicant or landowner is known/unknown, liked/disliked, trusted/not trusted, local/not local. 4. The right to a view over another person’s land (there is no such right in the planning considerations). 5. Impact on property value. The local town councils or parish councils are always consulted, however even their recommendations may be overridden by the planning authority. Mid Bedfordshire rely on the County Council for expertise on matters relating to traffic and highways. Other bodies may also be consulted when specialist knowledge or advise is needed, for example, English Nature, The RSPB and the local Wildlife Trust on wildlife and nature conservation issues, the Ramblers Association on footpaths and the Environmental Heath Department on health and pollution issues. How are decisions made?The majority of applications are dealt with by the Head of Planning Services under delegated powers and are not considered at a planning meeting. Some applications are reported to the relevant Development Control Committee for it to make the decision. These are made up of Councillors, and meeting in Ampthill (West) generally on Tuesdays and Biggleswade (East) generally on Wednesday every four weeks. The meetings are open to the public and start at 4.00 pm. A calendar of meetings can be obtained from the Customer Focus Team (01767) 602324 and is also available on the Mid Beds website. Any comments made by neighbouring residents will be taken into account but will not necessarily mean that the application will be reported to Committee. The areas covered by each committee are as follows:
In some cases where an application has been refused, the applicant will appeal against that decision to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. An independent inspector will be appointed to decide the appeal. If you were consulted on the original application, or made comments on it, you will be notified of the appeal and be given the opportunity to let the inspector know your views. Where can you get more advice on planning matters? If you would like to discuss a planning application, which you feel, may affect you, or would like advice on actually making an application or would generally like further advice on any planning matter, please contact the Biggleswade planning office. Mid Bedfordshire also deal with Planning Control matters and obtaining Building Regulations approval. If you need advice on such matters contact Biggleswade in the first instance, who will recommend the relevant offices to you. At the Biggleswade planning office you can call in and ask to speak to a planning officer between 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm on Monday to Thursday and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm on Fridays, although it is usually best to ring and make an appointment. The address of the planning office is; Planning Division Telephone: 01767 602324 Mid Beds District Council have issued some guidelines on the Local Development Framework (which replaces the Local Plan); Planning for the Best Future Planning the future development of housing, jobs, shops and community facilities in Mid Beds affects everyone, so Mid Beds District Council wants everyone to be involved. The new Local Development Framework, which replaces the Local Plan, will give you the opportunity to be involved in decisions about future growth and protecting our environment. These decisions are all about change – creating it, controlling it, negotiating for it, and using it to get the best for the community you live in – and how change will be managed for the next twenty years. It is important that you express your ideas and opinions at the very beginning of developing this Framework, as some things cannot be changed later, because some things, like your future, need to be planned now. So ensure your views are heard and your opinions are taken on board. During the first half of 2005 Mid Beds District Council will be holding a series of ‘planning days’ to help set our strategy for the next twenty years. While the Local Development Framework has to be developed within wider government guidelines, locally it can establish how to: Retain, support and encourage communities Protect our environment Accommodate new developments Control and guide development. Your future needs to be planned so you get the best out of it. Look out for more about the Local Development Framework and for details of future meetings. You can register your interest on our website by emailing LDF@midbeds.gov.uk or visit our web pages: www.midbeds.gov.uk.
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