Central Bedfordshire Council’s Development Management Committee has voted unanimously in favour of resolving to grant outline planning consent up to 43 new dwellings at Bidwell, Houghton Regis. CSA’s Urban Design team worked closely with a number of consultants, including Planning and Development Consultancy Optimis, to prepare a detailed masterplan and the supporting Design and Access Statement.
During the course of the application being determined, the design proposals had to undergo a number of changes in order to address concerns raised by CBC, particularly in relation to how the proposed new homes related to an existing public footpath that crosses the site. The revised masterplan presented a revised approach whereby the footpath would only be fronted to the north by the new homes, with the area to the south being provided as new public open space.