29 mobile homes at Land at Clifton Park, Clifton

What was proposed

The application sought 29 mobile homes, including 15 affordable-rent units, with associated access, parking, landscaping and drainage works.

“APPLICATION NUMBERCB/25/03014/FULL LOCATIONLand at Clifton Park, New Road, Clifton PROPOSALChange of use of land for the siting of 29 mobile homes, including 15 units for affordable rent, together with associated access, parking, landscape and drainage works.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 2.35-hectare site lies west of an existing park-home site, outside Clifton’s settlement boundary and within open countryside.

“For the reasons set out within this report, the development is considered to be sustainable, and no significant harm has been identified that could not be mitigated through the imposition of appropriate planning conditions and a series of planning obligations that could be secured through the completion of a legal agreement.”

“The overall site (the application site and the adjacent Clifton Park) sits outside of the Settlement Envelope of the village of Clifton and within the open countryside. The centre of Clifton is around 700m to the north and there is a continuous footway between it and the site. There is a bus stop within Clifton Park that connects residents to nearby towns and villages.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Two earlier applications for similar development were withdrawn, while a 2017 application for park homes and community facilities was granted.

“DecisionApplication Withdrawn Decision Date11/01/2024 Case ReferenceCB/22/02264/FULL LocationClifton Park Homes, New Road, Clifton, Shefford, SG17 5JJ ProposalSiting of 29 residential caravans including 15 units for affordable rent, erection of a new community hub with shop, meeting space and landscaping, extension of SUDS pond. Change of use of land.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the development sustainable, with housing and affordable accommodation benefits outweighing countryside policy conflict and mitigable harm.

“The proposed development would provide a scheme with 15 affordable rent park homes which equates to 51.7% affordable housing which is above the required 30% minimum of affordable housing as required by Policy H4. The affordable homes will be wholly affordable rent which, while it does deviate from the requirements of Poly H4, the Council’s Housing Team has raised no objection to this, given that the provision addresses the most acute housing need in Central Bedfordshire.”

“9.2The proposed development conflicts with Policy SP7 of the CBLP in that it forms development outside the defined Settlement Envelope of Clifton. Major residential development is not one of the categories of development that is supported within the open countryside. 9.3The Council cannot demonstrate a 5-year supply of housing land (currently 4.83 years) and as such, Policy SP7 is deemed out of date and the 'tilted balance' is engaged.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from an objector and the agent for the applicant before considering the proposal.

The vote

Ten members voted for approval, with none against and none abstaining.

“On being put to the vote, 10 members voted to approve the application, 0 members voted against approval and 0 members abstained.”

Minutes