Housing plan in Bedford borough rejected over impact on ‘nationally important’ medieval earthworks

The monument can only be seen as features in the landscape on the site east of Rookery House, in The Lane, but heritage experts say it is a hugely significant earthwork thought to relate to a medieval manor house.

A planning application to build in the site was thrown out by Bedford Borough Council in September 2019 so the applicant, a Mr I L Parrott, appealed to Government inspectors.

Planning inspector Graham Wyatt visited the area on November 10

Mr Wyatt said: “The scheduled monument dates from the medieval period and is, by definition, of national importance.”

In the circumstances he said that any harm to the asset should have a clear and convincing justification.

In his decision letter dated November 27 he laid out what the benefits were, and then rejected them.

“I accept that the provision of up to four dwellings would make a limited contribution towards the housing supply and need of the area, and that there would also be some economic and social benefits related to the development and the future occupation of the dwellings,” he said.

But he concluded that “I am not persuaded that these matters represent any more than a limited public benefit which would be insufficient to outweigh the otherwise identified harm.”

He added that archaeological remains may exist under the scheduled monument and other assets may exist within the proposed development area.

“In the absence of detailed evidence to suggest otherwise, there is significant risk that the scheduled monument could be directly affected or harmed by the development,” he said.

“As such I consider that a precautionary approach is justified.

“I am not persuaded that the benefits of the development would outweigh the harm that I have identified.”

Although it is close to the A1 and A428 and an electricity pylon dominates the site, he was not persuaded that these were appropriate reasons to find in favour.