Search Houghton Regis Notes

Saturday, 25 February 2023

Planning in Houghton Regis: Monumental failure?

Well, the Bedford Rd area might have gone better, if all the little landowners had gotten together and plots east and west of it had come forward at the same time, to lessen the piecemeal approach that ensued. I know the original planning officer at CBC did his best to try to get more cohesion for an overall plan but it just didn't happen. Too many little landowners.

Linmere? I thought that area was going ok, as was HRN2, although I've never been a fan of renaming Thorn after the consortium's name of Bidwell West.

Mind you, I only landed in Houghton Regis at the end of 2006, and by then the developments were already a long way down the planning route. So, for me, it's been a journey of learning the footpaths, enjoying the walks, and recording what's been happening. There's still great walks to be had and it's important to keep on top of keeping those routes out from the urban mass as green as they can be. They're not only green corridors for wildlife, but also for humans and of course that means clearing up human (litter) waste, so people should help out with the Houghton Wombles where they can.