We are where we are

Busy parish council committees last night with nine members present and apologies from Morris, Cosbie-Ross and Clark. 

Members were very concerned about the planning application for the former Hartwell Almshouses and the proposal for three separate dwellings each with a bedroom and a 'study-bedroom'. That suggests potential dense occupation and we specified that there should be parking at the front for six vehicles. The High Street is packed tight as it is.

The latest proposal is disappointing but not a surprise. The former owner, the Hartwell Charity, aspired to modernise and sell the building as a single luxury dwelling - potentially the best way of ensuring that its historical and architectural merits would be preserved. But none of the modernisation proposals met with approval from the CBC conservation officer and fell by the way side. So as we often say wearily: 'We are where we are".

Wherever that is!

Planning apps in Cranfield

New planning applications in for Cranfield include the former Hartwell Alms houses (now sold) viewable at

 Central Beds Planning

and the development at the corner of Lodge Road and the High Street viewable at

Central Beds Planning Lodge Road

Hartwell Almshouses

Hartwell Almshouses, part of Cranfield's historical landscape, have now been sold. The money raised will be used to create new fit-for-purpose units which will allow the Hartwell charity to once again offer homes to elderly people in the village in need of accommodation. My photo-essay attempts to capture the unique character of this structure.

Hartwell Almshouses

CBC's Development Management committee has turned down The Hartwell Almshouses planning application by 9 votes to 5. It's depressing and raises the prospects that this historic building will decline, unused and unusable, eventually. There has been criticism of an over zealous approach taken by the conservation officer who recommended refusal but ultimately it was the elected members who took the decision to agree with her. Do officers rule in CBC? (See Flitt Leys decisions)

Conservation gone mad

I spent part of last evening at the Hartwell Almshouse charity meeting as a PC rep. Jon Billington, the secretary, has been working extremely hard to make the almhouses (set back from the road and beside the Methodist Church)  suitable for alteration and resale. 

When I was first shown round I was amazed at the tiny living space for each of the three dwellings, reflective of the 19th century. Two recent tenants had moved out because it was so hard to heat and it is now unoccupied. The trustees had agreed that re-design as  a single, luxury home with vehicle access at the front would make the almshouses sellable and the money raised permit the purchase of new suitable housing for elderly in the village. All subject to planning permission. I'm sure the original benefactor, Quaker Richard Hartwell would agree entirely.

Unfortunately the conservation officer at CBC doesn't agree. This is a grade II listed building and the Charity's proposals carefully preserve the exterior at the front. But I have been informed that the CO wants the interior with its tiny rooms maintained and objected  to an external corridor linking the almshouses to an extension at the back. 

At the back - which as you can see from the google street view image above will not be visible.

She is recommending refusal of planning permission by CBC. The building cannot be reused without a change to the interior.

This is coming up at CBC Development Control committee next Wednesday and I believe Jon is going to make the trek to Chicksands to speak for three minutes and hopefully to save the plan. Pcllr Roger Baker is also attending for the same reason. Beyond the call of duty after his sterling service over Flitt Leys, I think, but we are grateful. If it is turned down I personally cannot see how it is saleable or useable and, in few years , may not be even beautiful. Listed or not. What a waste.


Hartwell Almshouses charity

Hartwell Almshouses

The Hartwell Almshouses were founded from the will of Richard Hartwell in 1734 and 1739. There were three houses provided for the use of not more than six people, of whom half had to be members of the Society of Friends. The other half had to have been residents in Cranfield Village. The houses were maintained by the income of Hartwell Farm situated in Court Road. The houses were rebuilt in 1834 and can be found at 35-39 High Street. They are set back from the road, next to the Methodist Church.
Richard Hartwell died on 16th June 1739. He was a Quaker and his grave can be found in the grounds of Hartwell Farm
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