Home Farm community building

After loads of frustration that the community building had to fit into a badminton court template there has been some loosening of the strait jacket.  A Central Beds planning officer came to the meeting on Wednesday to discuss  having  another look at the design. Pigs were spotted taking off over Marston Thrift but it was all true.


It would appear that Persimmon have requested that  the ‘trigger’ (number of houses) at which construction of the community building starts, could be moved back. This would allow time to think again about  the design  and a further consultation with the village. The building does not have to be specifically sports focused we have been told. In the meantime, Persimmon will seek permission for the building as it currently has been designed as  a fall back if discussions on another design don't bear fruit.


My own opinion - which I think is pretty common - is that we need a building like a modern family car that can be opened up or folded down into 72 different configurations - everything from little nooks for private meetings and committees to whole hall meetings and play and recreation areas. We also need standard height ceilings as opposed to badminton hall which are easier to keep warm. 


I am also pressing for excellent 'Breeam' standards for environmental quality - this would include PV panels (photovoltaic - generating and selling electricity), solar thermal (heating water) and rain water harvest (used in the toilets). 

Council meeting Wednesday 16 February

Full council meetings (see this Wednesday's agenda)  can be pretty routine but interested parishioners should note two items below. First a Central Beds Planning officer will be coming  at 7 pm to talk about the design for the community building. Secondly we have the discussion about street names for Home Farm. 

7.00pm. Hanna Pattinson (CBC Planning) to discuss options relating to the design of the community building.

8.00pm,  MEETING OF THE FULL PARISH COUNCIL

1.     TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:  CB/PCllrs. D Allan, Peter Meadows, Jo Stannage

2.     TO RECEIVE DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL AND/OR PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS IN ANY MATTER

3.     TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING[S] [copy herewith]

4.     CLERKS REPORT

5.     Health & Safety

6.     REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES

6.1.  General Purposes Committee

6.2.  Burial Grounds Committee

6.3.  Environment Committee

6.4.  Planning Committee

6.4.1.         Consideration of General Planning Matters

6.4.2.         Street naming – Home Farm

7.     CORRESPONDENCE

8.     FINANCIAL MATTERS AND ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

9.     REPORTS FROM CENTRAL BEDS COUNCILLORS (and any other representative)

10.  HIGHWAY MATTERS

Home Farm Denison land

Property developers Persimmon have confirmed that they still intend to buy the Denison land (at the rear of Plough Close and Willow Springs) but have stressed that if they do not do so the community building will still be built - but elsewhere on the site. 

I'm still trying to confirm this but I believe we need more information on what is happening here and the likely implications for the design of the site.

Community Building

We have had a phone call from the Home Farm architects asking if this Council would send an e-mail stating that the it does not envisage using the proposed Home Farm community building "for large gatherings such as wedding receptions etc".

This is for reasons of internal administrative convenience. I have asked that a request like this is only considered at full council.

Home Farm Planning Application

The 129-home planning application application is now in for Home Farm, I understand. I still can't see it on Central Beds Planning Applications. Work on planning the community building is also going on apace.

Under the 'section 106' agreement Persimmon is legally bound to deliver the community building. In addition to this, cash sums are included in the 106 agreement for additional facilities. These are: library £75,000; pre-school £50,000 and toilet block/changing rooms (for the lower school playing area) £120,000.

At last month’s Parish Council Planning Committee, Martin Wright, for Persimmon said Persimmon was willing to engage with the community if it wished to extend the building to include some or all of these facilities in the community building rather than constructing them separately. There are potential benefits to the community if a planning application for an extended facility is submitted at the same time as the first phase of Home Farm.

The Parish Council has now set up a working party to consider the workability of the building, and the feasibility of adding facilities to the basic structure. The working party includes Jonathan Vowles, representing Acorn Pre-school; Heather Knox, Central Bedfordshire; a Central Bedfordshire planning officer; Mrs Delise Ball, chair of the Parish Council; Central Bedfordshire Councillor Ken Matthews; Mrs Sue Clark, chair of the Parish Council Planning Committee; a Persimmon representative and a representative from the library service.

The Home Farm Stakeholder Group held its second meeting in March. In addition to discussion on the community building (see above) it also looked at the Parish Council considering the adoption of open spaces, a possible public exhibition in local retail premises (subject to agreement), archaeology and the design of the Lodge Road exit junction to discourage left hand turns.

The Lower School obviously has a strong interest in developments. Paul Rossiter, chair of Cranfield Lower School Governing Body adds: "We are keen to work through the Home Farm Stakeholder Group to make the most of the opportunities available to the school, for the benefit of our children, as the result of this development. As we have limited space for expansion within our current boundaries it is important to us to take advantage of any facilities available to us and to ensure the appropriate use of funds designated for the school's benefit.”