A 150-property development on a brownfield site at Leighton Buzzard has been scaled down to allow for a former quarry to be filled.
The project area consists of two adjoining parcels of land, called Spinney Park and Spinney Pool, to the west of Billington Road.
Edwards Warehousing Limited’s new application is for no more than 120 homes, with parking and open space, on nine acres.
Spinney Pool is a former quarry and vandalism led to the commercial buildings on this site being demolished in 2018, according to a report to Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee.
It has been vacant for nearly four years and is being levelled up with the rest of the area, said the report.
“Evidence was submitted with the previous planning application showing the failure of a marketing campaign to secure a new commercial occupier.
“Spinney Park has been vacant for a few months, after the relocation of the previous tenant, Maritime, at the end of its lease.”
The revised outline proposals suggest a layout of 110 properties, with 80 houses and 30 flats, added the report.
But this is “purely illustrative” and just shows one way in which a residential development could be designed on the site.
“The plans would change the appearance of the two sites from industrial to residential, and deliver a three-metre cycleway along the west side of Billington Road.
“Finance would be provided to link this route to the cycleway on Chartmoor Road.”
The original application approved by the committee was for 150 homes, based on the ground level of the Spinney Pool site at that stage.
There are two buildings on Spinney Park, with the remaining land used for lorry parking in an area designated for employment.
Two public footpaths run between the sites, one of which will be widened to include a cycleway.
Principal planning officer Debbie Quinn said benefits of the scheme include “the removal of an uncontrolled 24/7 noisy use close to residential development”.
Leighton-Linslade Town Council opposes the project over a lack of natural drainage in an area subject to surface water flooding.
It also objects on highways safety grounds because the access leads on to a busy roundabout, and has concerns about the switch from employment land to residential.
Conservative Leighton Buzzard South councillor David Bowater said his only concern before was the steepness of the access road, which has been resolved.
Conservative Leighton Buzzard South councillor Ray Berry confirmed all three ward members are in agreement with the plans.
“It’s an improvement in that we don’t have that great hole in the ground now,” he said.
Some land at Spinney Park used to be the private garden and nature reserve of Oliver Gregory Pike, who was a pioneer of wildlife photography and cinematography, explained the report.
“A short book about his life was published by the Leighton Buzzard and District Archaeological and Historical Society in 2013.”
A comment submitted called for “a road to be named after him and an interpretation board about him” to be provided on the site.
Councillors approved the resubmitted development, subject to a Section 106 contributions agreement, with 12 votes in favour, none against and one abstention.
