The site was near to the strategic road network, but was not allocated as an employment site in the local plan, adopted in January 2020. The appellant proposed to move its existing business in Bedford Borough to the new site when its lease expired. The main issues were whether the site was a suitable location for the development, its effect on the character and appearance of the area, and whether any identified harms were outweighed by other material considerations such that permission should be granted.
The local planning authority, supported by Roxton Parish Council, argued that there was a conflict with the development plan, and harm to the countryside setting of Roxton village, and that there was not a good reason to depart from the development plan. The appellant argued that the scheme was consistent with the local plan, alternatively that local plan should be treated as out-of-date for failing to provide suitable sites for relocating its business, and/or that greater weight should be given to the economic and other benefits of the scheme as against loss of countryside amenity. The planning inspector found that there were ‘fundamental conflicts’ with various local policies and harm to the character and appearance of the area, that the most important policies were not out-of-date, and that material considerations did not justify a decision other than in accordance with the plan.
David Graham acted for Roxton Parish Council. A copy of the decision may be found here.