Have your say on design guidance and tree planting in the Forest of Marston Vale
Wednesday, 15 June 2022
We're inviting residents and other interested parties, to have their say on the Developing in the Forest of Marston Vale: Design Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) consultation.
The Forest of Marston Vale is one of 12 nationally designated Community Forests created in the 1990s as part of a programme to regenerate degraded landscapes near large urban populations and spans an area of 61 miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes.
The Developing in the Forest of Marston Vale: Design Guidance SPD has been prepared by Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedford Borough Council and the Forest of Marston Vale Trust, and provides guidance on how new developments can achieve the 30% tree cover requirement set out in Local Plan policy. It also provides design principles to ensure new developments contribute toward the character of the forest area and takes into account the impact of climate change.
Councillor Kevin Collins, our Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, said:
We are extremely proud of the Forest of Marston Vale and the huge impact it’s had on our environment and the quality of life for residents in Central Bedfordshire. This additional planning guidance will help to guide new development in achieving the aims of the Forest of Marston Vale Trust and to provide vital green spaces in new developments, which will be important for generations to come. We all recognise and understand the importance of trees and forests to all our futures, so please let us have your views on this consultation.
Councillor Henry Vann, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Town Centres at Bedford Borough Council, said:
We are proud to have planted thousands of trees in Bedford Borough during this last planting season, recognising the importance of them for our streets and our environment, for years to come. We have worked in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council and the Forest of Marston Vale Trust to develop this document, helping to guide and create vital green space. Please do have your say.
The consultation is open for six weeks (Wednesday 15 June 2022 to Thursday 28 July 2022).
Find out more and have your say.
Paper copies are available to view in council libraries across Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough as well as our main offices in Chicksands and Dunstable.
If anyone has difficulties accessing the documents, please contact the Strategic Growth Team by telephoning 0300 300 8307 or by email to localplan@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Once the consultation has closed, consideration will be given to the comments received and changes will be made to the document where necessary. A summary of the comments received and how they’ve been taken into account will be presented to our Executive Committee in the autumn, alongside the revised Forest of Marston Vale Supplementary Planning Document (FoMV SPD). Subject to adoption, the SPD will become a material consideration in determining applications within the Forest of Marston Vale area and all development proposals will be required to demonstrate that they have taken it into consideration.