Central Beds and Persimmon

Letter from Central beds in response to our enquiry about Persimmon activity on Home Farm

I write in response to your letter dated 1 August to Cllrs Matthews, Bastable and Clark in relation to the three points raised in respect of the strategic housing site known as Home Farm, Cranfield. Cllr Matthews forwarded the letter to me for comment and I would like to respond as follows:

·        At this time the application remains undetermined and as such the Council is continuing to consider its merits.  Should we find ourselves in a situation where Persimmon choose to appeal against non-determination then it is at this stage that a report will be produced for consideration by the Development Management Committee which will result in a resolution from the Council on what it would have done had it been entitled to determine the application.

·        It is not unlawful to undertake works without planning permission it only becomes an offence when an enforcement notice is served.  In this instance no enforcement notice was served because all works requiring planning permission ceased voluntarily on site and consequently it was not expedient to serve an enforcement notice.  To date the only works which have been undertaken relate to those works agreed in the context of the S278 Highways Agreement and these are not works included within the planning permission.  However, I would like to express gratitude to both Cranfield Parish Council and local residents for providing us with accurate information in such a timely fashion as this enabled this Council to reach a mutual agreement with Persimmon to cease works on site.

·      As you may appreciate land ownership is not a prerequisite for securing all the necessary consents to fulfil the requirements of a planning permission.  The Section 106 and conditions on the planning permission will enable the Council to ensure that the development is implemented in accordance with these approvals and negotiations between third parties to acquire land necessary to fulfil these obligations is not a matter which the Council would become party to. 

Hannah Pattinson

Principal Planning Officer