Since January 2020, Richard has consistently opposed the proposed development of 416 houses on Furzenhall Road, Biggleswade. He first wrote to Central Bedfordshire Council outlining his concerns about the project's scale, sustainability, and the potential dangers it poses to road safety due to its proximity to a school. Richard supported Biggleswade Town Council's critique of the transport assessment, highlighting inadequacies in evaluating traffic impact. You can read Richard’s most recent letter of objection to Central Bedfordshire Council in August 2024 here.
In alignment with Biggleswade Town Council and Central Bedfordshire Councillors, Richard is committed to opposing any appeals that do not adequately address the concerns about the project's sustainability, road safety, and impact on local infrastructure.
On 23rd August 2024, Central Bedfordshire Council unanimously rejected the application. As a result, the applicant appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.
On 6 November 2024, the Planning Inspectorate upheld the applicant's appeal and granted planning permission for 416 houses on the Land North of Biggleswade, which can be read here, overturning the decision of Central Bedfordshire Council's Planning Committee. Richard expressed his disappointment at this decision. However, with the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to approve the development, this brings an end to efforts to prevent it from going forward. Though this outcome is not what was wanted, Richard is committed to working closely with local councillors to monitor the impact of this development.
You can read more about Richard's work on this below.
