Mitigation agreed to relieve pressure on the Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation
Thursday, 16 March 2023
We have finalised our mitigation strategy and successfully designated four open spaces, as Strategic Alternative Green Spaces (SANGs).
This mitigates the impact of development in parts of southern Central Bedfordshire on the Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation.
This follows the Executive approving the draft mitigation strategy and delegating authority to agree the final strategy at its meeting on 7 February 2023.
The mitigation involves setting a charge for the development of new homes to fund on-site improvements at Chilterns Beechwoods alongside enhancements to alternative natural green spaces within Central Bedfordshire. Natural England has agreed this approach.
Four green spaces at Sundon Hills Country Park, Linslade Wood, Cottage Bottom Fields and Studham Common will benefit from a range of improvements.
This will include tranquil and safe walking routes, new benches, areas for dogs to be walked off their leads and dedicated car parking all designed to improve the experience and encourage more people to visit and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits walking in nature has to offer.
We intend to confirm a further two natural green spaces shortly and will review more opportunities in the future. This is part of a coordinated effort to create a comprehensive network of green infrastructure that supports sustainability, biodiversity, and health and wellbeing within Central Bedfordshire.
Lorna Carver, Director of Place and Communities, said:
Natural England is concerned about the number of people visiting the Chilterns Beechwoods SAC and the impact on the environment. This has meant since March 2022 we, and other nearby local authorities, had to pause taking decisions on planning applications within the designated affected area.
Since then, our planning teams have worked hard to get to this position and this mitigation strategy and our Strategic Alternative Natural Green space plans are the final mechanisms needed to enable us to resume determining residential planning applications in southern Central Bedfordshire.
This provided an unexpected opportunity to improve our own green spaces to make them more attractive and accessible for residents. Having these welcoming natural areas close by should encourage more people to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of a good walk.