133 Ireland, Shefford, SG17 5QL Data via plota.co.uk

CB/25/03209/FULL - Full Application Approved

Proposal

Erection of timber double garage Data via plota.co.uk

Track application Save this application and get an email when its status or decision changes. Alerts nearby Get email alerts for new planning applications near this address.

View original council record ↗Last checked 18 Oct 2026, 18:39

Application progress

✓

Received

8 Oct 2025

✓

Validated

8 Dec 2025

✓

Approved

27 Jan 2026

Approved on 27 Jan 2026 · Last checked 18 Oct 2026

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 3

Agricultural land, grade 2

Best and most versatile land (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Source: the Predictive Agricultural Land Classification Map (Defra and Natural England, 2025; the Welsh Government's Predictive ALC Map 2 in Wales), a model rather than a site survey. Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s), which most planning maps still show, had this area as grade 3. The predicted grade is Defra's current estimate; only a site survey settles it.

Where development of farmland is needed, policy prefers poorer land over the best and most versatile (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Three sources: Natural England's post-1988 field surveys, which are definitive where they exist; the Defra predictive map for England (2025) and the Welsh Government predictive map, modelled from the soil map with 3a and 3b split; and the 1970s provisional map, which planners and other services still show, coarser and with grade 3 undivided. Where the provisional and predicted grades disagree, treat the predicted grade as the current estimate and expect an application to carry its own survey.

Also on the record

Registered park or garden about 104 m away: Southill Park; Priority habitat about 12 m away: Deciduous woodland.

Not affected

Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. The pin for this application is the centre of its postcode rather than the building, so distances to nearby designations are measured from the postcode and can be out by the width of the postcode area. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area80 m² (861 sq ft)

Energy ratingD (62 out of 100), could reach C

PropertyEnd-terrace house, 5 habitable rooms

BuiltBefore 1900

HeatingBoiler and radiators, oil

WallsSolid brick, with internal insulation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in June 2026, the latest held for this property, matched to this application by its address. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

Work with planning data?

Every application in Central Bedfordshire - and every UK council - as a live feed, an API, or a bulk CSV export.

About Plota's data service

Important details

Council: Central Bedfordshire
Application type: Full Application
Postcode: SG17 5QL
Received: 8 Oct 2025
Validated: 8 Dec 2025
Parish: Southill
Case officer: Show
Target decision: 2 Feb 2026
Decision: Full Application - Granted Conditions or Reasons: View Conditions or Reasons Informative Notes: 1 )Reasons for Granting: The proposal seeks planning permission for the erection of a timber double garage. The application site comprises a two-storey, end of terrace cottage located in Ireland, to the north of Shefford. The surrounding area is rural in nature, characterised with few residential dwellings. The host dwelling itself is not a Listed Building. However, on the basis of its age, siting and historical and architectural features, the dwelling is deemed a non-designated heritage asset. Paragraph 216 of the NPPF (2024) states: "The effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that directly or indirectly affect non-designated heritage assets, a balanced judgement will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset." Moreover, Policy HE3 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan states: "Development proposals affecting designated and non-designated heritage assets of local importance will be granted provided they: 1. Where possible, preserve, sustain and enhance the special character, significance, appearance and/or special architectural or historic interest of the asset/s in terms of scale, form, proportion, design, materials and the retention of features in accordance with national planning policy and legislation..." The proposed timber double garage would be appropriately separated from the host dwelling, separated by an existing access and driveway, sited on land which, from the information provided and available, would appear to have been used historically as garden land in association with the host dwellinghouse. The garage would be of timber frame construction with dark-stained horizontal lap-board cladding and dark-stained vertical timber boarding for the doors. In addition, the garage would not be considered to comprise an overly significant or dominant addition at the site and would, particularly by virtue of its materials which would be expected for similar development in such a countryside location; respect the rural character of the area. Moreover, the garage would not be deemed to appear overly visible or prominent within the local area, due to its set back from the highway and as it would be mostly screened by mature landscaping along the north-eastern boundary. Considering the above, the double garage would appear an appropriate addition at the application site, which would be considered to preserve and would not detract views away from, the host dwelling. Aside from this, the extension to the driveway would be considered acceptable on the basis of its limited sprawl across the site and limited impact upon landscaping and the rural nature of the site. As such, the proposals would be acceptable and would not be considered to result in any harmful impact upon the character and appearance of the rural area. As regards neighbouring amenity, the double garage would be well-separated from neighbouring residential dwellings as to where no adverse loss of light, overbearing impact or loss or privacy would be deemed to arise. The proposals would increase the parking at the site, and would not adversely impact the access arrangements. As such, the proposal would be acceptable, with regard to highway considerations. Neighbouring properties and the Parish Council have been consulted on this application. Southill Parish Council did not comment and no comments were received in the form of public representations. Therefore, it is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with Policies HQ1, T2 and T3 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan, Section 11 of the Central Bedfordshire Design Guide, the Parking Standards for New Development SPD and Section 12 of the NPPF.Reasons for Granting: The proposal seeks planning permission for the erection of a timber double garage. The application site comprises a two-storey, end of terrace cottage located in Ireland, to the north of Shefford. The surrounding area is rural in nature, characterised with few residential dwellings. The host dwelling itself is not a Listed Building. However, on the basis of its age, siting and historical and architectural features, the dwelling is deemed a non-designated heritage asset. Paragraph 216 of the NPPF (2024) states: "The effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that directly or indirectly affect non-designated heritage assets, a balanced judgement will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset." Moreover, Policy HE3 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan states: "Development proposals affecting designated and non-designated heritage assets of local importance will be granted provided they: 1. Where possible, preserve, sustain and enhance the special character, significance, appearance and/or special architectural or historic interest of the asset/s in terms of scale, form, proportion, design, materials and the retention of features in accordance with national planning policy and legislation..." The proposed timber double garage would be appropriately separated from the host dwelling, separated by an existing access and driveway, sited on land which, from the information provided and available, would appear to have been used historically as garden land in association with the host dwellinghouse. The garage would be of timber frame construction with dark-stained horizontal lap-board cladding and dark-stained vertical timber boarding for the doors. In addition, the garage would not be considered to comprise an overly significant or dominant addition at the site and would, particularly by virtue of its materials which would be expected for similar development in such a countryside location; respect the rural character of the area. Moreover, the garage would not be deemed to appear overly visible or prominent within the local area, due to its set back from the highway and as it would be mostly screened by mature landscaping along the north-eastern boundary. Considering the above, the double garage would appear an appropriate addition at the application site, which would be considered to preserve and would not detract views away from, the host dwelling. Aside from this, the extension to the driveway would be considered acceptable on the basis of its limited sprawl across the site and limited impact upon landscaping and the rural nature of the site. As such, the proposals would be acceptable and would not be considered to result in any harmful impact upon the character and appearance of the rural area. As regards neighbouring amenity, the double garage would be well-separated from neighbouring residential dwellings as to where no adverse loss of light, overbearing impact or loss or privacy would be deemed to arise. The proposals would increase the parking at the site, and would not adversely impact the access arrangements. As such, the proposal would be acceptable, with regard to highway considerations. Neighbouring properties and the Parish Council have been consulted on this application. Southill Parish Council did not comment and no comments were received in the form of public representations. Therefore, it is considered that the proposal would be in accordance with Policies HQ1, T2 and T3 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan, Section 11 of the Central Bedfordshire Design Guide, the Parking Standards for New Development SPD and Section 12 of the NPPF. 2 )GDP Policy Informative Central Beds Local Plan In accordance with Article 35 (1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, the reason for any condition above relates to the Policies as referred to in the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).GDP Policy Informative Central Beds Local Plan In accordance with Article 35 (1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, the reason for any condition above relates to the Policies as referred to in the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 3 )This permission relates only to that required under the Town & Country Planning Acts and does not include any consent or approval under any other enactment or under the Building Regulations. Any other consent or approval which is necessary must be obtained from the appropriate authority.This permission relates only to that required under the Town & Country Planning Acts and does not include any consent or approval under any other enactment or under the Building Regulations. Any other consent or approval which is necessary must be obtained from the appropriate authority. 4 )Please note that the unnumbered drawings submitted in connection with this application have been given unique numbers by the Local Planning Authority. The numbers can be sourced by examining the plans on the View a Planning Application pages of the Councils website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.Please note that the unnumbered drawings submitted in connection with this application have been given unique numbers by the Local Planning Authority. The numbers can be sourced by examining the plans on the View a Planning Application pages of the Councils website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. 5 )Will a new extension affect your Council Tax Charge? The rate of Council Tax you pay depends on which valuation band your home is placed in. This is determined by the market value of your home as at 1 April 1991. Your property's Council Tax band may change if the property is extended.� The Council Tax band will only change when a relevant transaction takes place. For example, if you sell your property after extending it, the new owner may have to pay a higher band of Council Tax. If however you add an annexe to your property, the Valuation Office Agency may decide that the annexe should be banded separately for Council Tax.� If this happens, you will have to start paying Council Tax for the annexe as soon as it is completed. If the annexe is occupied by a relative of the residents of the main dwelling, it may qualify for a Council Tax discount or exemption.� Contact the Council for advice on 0300 300 8306. The website link is: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-tax-bandsWill a new extension affect your Council Tax Charge? The rate of Council Tax you pay depends on which valuation band your home is placed in. This is determined by the market value of your home as at 1 April 1991. Your property's Council Tax band may change if the property is extended.� The Council Tax band will only change when a relevant transaction takes place. For example, if you sell your property after extending it, the new owner may have to pay a higher band of Council Tax. If however you add an annexe to your property, the Valuation Office Agency may decide that the annexe should be banded separately for Council Tax.� If this happens, you will have to start paying Council Tax for the annexe as soon as it is completed. If the annexe is occupied by a relative of the residents of the main dwelling, it may qualify for a Council Tax discount or exemption.� Contact the Council for advice on 0300 300 8306. The website link is: https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-tax-bands 6 )Please note this permission does not confer any rights with regard to the extent of the residential curtilage.Please note this permission does not confer any rights with regard to the extent of the residential curtilage.
Decision date: 27 Jan 2026
Agent: Show

How this decision compares

Decided in 50 days from validation, 5 days faster than Central Bedfordshire's median of 55 for full applications. Approved, as 85% of full applications here are.

This one50d

Council55d

UK56d

63%decided within 8 weeks

85%approved

100%go to committee

Plota live figures for full applications decided by Central Bedfordshire in the last twelve months, from validation. Central Bedfordshire decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 18 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Consultation: 8 Dec 2025
Comments by: 14 Jan 2026
Site or press notice: 24 Dec 2025

Central Bedfordshire

Planning Authority Score

6.3/10

Average

#88 of 296 councils

Relevant to this application:

Householder decisions

Central Bedfordshire is faster than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #62 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (91%) than the national average (90%).

Faster than most councils

for householder decisions

These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance

Central Bedfordshire decision statistics

Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026

84%

Overall approval rate

Below avg (87%) #218 of 296

91%

Householder approved

Above avg (90%) #169 of 296

76%

Decided in 8 weeks

Above avg (63%) #62 of 296

35%

Extended time limit

Below avg (41%) #99 of 296

61%

Minor dwellings approved

153 decided (1-9 homes)

86%

Major dwellings approved

29 decided (10+ homes)

73%

Change of use approved

45 decided

1,444

Total decisions

226 refused in the year to March 2026

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.