Housing for older people

Portnall Place, Mill Road

CBC is raising the issue about housing for older people in rural areas. This is absolutely right as the country's housing stock depletes and we do not keep up with the house building programme of the 1950s. Cranfield has first class provision, run by Aragon in Mill Road (above) but what's next? 

There's supposed to be more homes for older people on the Home Farm development, when that's built, but we are't holding our breaths. The Alms Houses, Goodman for instance, are still around but the Hartwell houses (see below) were no longer fit for purpose and have been sold to finance future housing for older people.

Hartwell almshouses - pretty but needing work

CBC wants comments on it newly adopted  Housing Allocations Policy to be implemented in the autumn. This asks that consideration be given  to older/retired people in rural areas, who may wish to downsize to a smaller property but remain in the area. The consultation runs between 2nd June and 30th June 2014. Personal and Parish Council views are invited. Responses via the Central Bedfordshire Council website: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations This will be considered at Full Council tomorrow evening (18 June)

Niceties of housing allocation

There is no change for Cranfield, under the new local development framework (135 at Central Motors and 20 at Lodge Road) . According to CB councillor Ken Matthews, however, an allocation of 1700 houses has been kept back so that the Neighborhood Plans can be accommodated. 

It appears that if the neighbourhood plans do not absorb these additional houses then another site allocation process will be needed.

More housing?

Remember the LDF? The Local Development Framework gave us 135 homes at Central Motors and 21 at the High St-Lodge Road corner. Now we have a new ‘development strategy’ which must be completed by April 2014. If not developers can put in a punt to build anywhere. Meanwhile bids are once again being solicited from all the usual suspects. Watch that open space - very carefully.

Housing targets

Communities minister Eric Pickles is abolishing local authority housing targets, I understand from media reports. Could that mean goodbye to 135 houses behind central motors and 21 at 1 and 2 the High Street?