Extension to planning application at Newlands Road

Luton On Sunday 03-Aug-14

Following on from last year's grant of planning permission for the construction of 234 flats on land off Newlands Road, the same developer has now come forward with a further application [ 14/01609/OUT ] which would fill in the previously 'missing' corner and extend the development right up to the Luton Road.  The revised scheme would take the number of units on site up to 394.

That side of the motorway is, of course, in Luton Borough and not Central Bedfordshire and so the planning decision lies with Luton Borough Council.

A few points raised at the time of the original application are still relevant now:

• Given that Luton have had CBC planning decisions challenged in the High Court for only including 10% affordable housing provision, what level of provision will they be securing on land within their own borough?
• As Luton's previous assessment of potential housing capacity in this area was well below 100, the granting of permission for 394 units would obviously represent something of a windfall.  Are they confident that they are really making efficient use of their limited land supply elsewhere?
• If the developer makes the full contribution towards education provision (and there is no suggestion that they would not), will Luton Borough council ensure that there is sufficient provision near to the location?  Schools in Caddington and Slip End take a significant number of children from within the Luton area and, whilst they are more than welcome to come to schools where parents hope they can secure the best education for their children, there will be population growth within the catchment area for those schools over the next 15-20 years and by implication spare places for out-of-catchment children will reduce.

Luton Borough have high expectations of what their neighbours should provide for them; it will be interesting to see what they expect of themselves.