2.0 Site Context and Key Development Influences

Home , Brogborough, Grand Union Canal, Houghton Conquest, Kempston Hardwick, Lidlington, Marston Moreteyne

2.0 SITE CONTEXT AND KEY DEVELOPMENT INFLUENCES

LOCATION AND EXISTING LAND USES The MVNV site is equidistant to the centre of Milton Keynes and Bedford, each approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) from the site. It is largely bound to the north west by the The MVNV comprises 558ha (1,378 acres) of land at a A421 and to the south east by the Marston Vale Railway central location within the Forest of Marston Vale. It is Line – which forms part of the Western Section of East- positioned within a strategic movement corridor at the West Rail (EWR). It is traversed by the C94 (old A421), geographic heart of the Oxford–Cambridge Arc. The which provides access to the M1 motorway via Junction strategic location of the site is shown at Figure 2.1. A map 13, and the future route of the proposed B&MK Waterway. showing the boundary of the Allocation Site is provided at Figure 2.2.

Northampton

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MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES Biggleswade A421 Cranﬁeld

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12 FIGURE 2.1: MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES STRATEGIC LOCATION AllocaAllocation boundary 1 BrBrogborough Lake 2 LidlingtLidlington Pit 3 RingwRingwork at the Roundhouse ScheduledScheduled Monumen Monument 4 MedieMedieval Village and Moated sites ScheduledScheduled Monumen Monument at Thrupp End 5 MoaMoat Farm Scheduled Monument 6 BrBrogborough Hill 7 OﬃcOffice Cottages 8 Thrupp End Farm The Allocation Site is largely characterised by its T 9 GrGreensand Ridge landscape. The Site contains existing vegetation, trees, 10 TThe Forest Centre hedgerows, Brogborough Lake and Lidlington Pit (also 11 MarMarston Vale Millennium Country Park known locally as Marston Pit – the name Lidlington Pit 12 SPStewartby Lake is used as a reference throughout this document – see 13 TThomas Johnson Lower School point 2 on Figure 2.2) and a small number of existing 14 ChurMarston Moretyene VC School – buildings including Common Farm located at the EndForest Sit End Site southern edge of Brogborough Lake. Features of the 15 ChurMarston Moretyene VC School – Church End Site previous industrial use of the site are also evident. As well 16 CCommon Farm as the existing C94 road, the MVNV site includes other 17 MillbrMillbrook Proving Ground existing local roads – including parts of Sheeptick End, 18 MarMarston Gate Marston Road, Woburn Road, Thrupp End and Station 19 MarMarston Thrift Lane/Station Road. The MVNV is set against the backdrop 20 ElsElstow Brook of the Greensand Ridge and is traversed by a number of 21 RRookery South Energy Recovery FFacility existing Public Rights of Way (PRoW). 22 MillbrMillbrook Power Gas Fired Generating GenerStation

12 Stewartby Cranﬁeld Stewartby Station Marston14 10

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J13 Ridgmont M1 Station A507

FIGURE 2.2: SITE CONTEXT 13 EXISTING SETTLEMENTS AND COMMUNITIES notable settlements are Ampthill and Flitwick to the south of the Marston Vale and the new settlement of Wixams located within Bedford Borough, to the south of Bedford There are a number of settlements located around between the A6 and the Midland Mainline railway. the Allocation Site and throughout the Marston Vale. The Allocation Site is positioned to the south west of Seeking to complement and strengthen these existing Marston Moreteyne and to the north east of the village communities whilst protecting their setting will be a key of Brogborough. The village of Lidlington lies centrally consideration for any development in this area and will to the south eastern boundary of the site. Other local influence the type and location of new facilities provided. settlements include Millbrook, the model village of Delivering new homes, jobs and amenities in the right Stewartby, Hulcote & Salford, Ridgmont and Cranfield. places will help to physically integrate new and existing There are other smaller settlements further afield communities whilst opening-up much wider access to including Kempston Hardwick, Houghton Conquest, existing landscape assets. Lower Shelton and Wilstead in the east of the Vale. Larger

STEWARTBY MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON LAKE Stewartby Cranﬁeld

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14 FIGURE 2.3: ALLOCATION BOUNDARY AND EXISTING SETTLEMENTS ACCESS, MOVEMENT AND CONNECTIVITY existing local issues such as the impact from traffic travelling through the centre of Marston Moreteyne and from larger vehicles traveling through Millbrook to access Road Access Millbrook Providing Ground. The principal access to the MVNV is provided by the C94 (former A421) which provides connections to the Public Transport strategic road network, the A421(T) at Junction 13 of Rail the M1 and at Marston Moreteyne. Three local roads There are existing railway stations at Lidlington, Millbrook traverse and provide access to the site including Thrupp and Ridgmont. The stations are served by trains operating End, Sheeptick End and Marston Road/Station Road. The along the Marston Vale Railway line between Bedford and MVNV allocation site also includes parts of Woburn Road Bletchley at around hourly intervals, Monday to Saturday. and Station Lane/Station Road. The journey between Bedford and Bletchley takes 44 minutes. The existing Marston Road provides road access through the centre of Marston Moreteyne. Marston Road/Bury The Marston Vale Railway Line will become part of Ware provides road access through Lidlington and then the Western Section of East West Rail and Ridgmont to the A507. Station Lane/Station Road continues to Station will become the stopping station for East West Millbrook with onward connections to the A507. The Rail services. East West Rail will provide direct, fast and local road network reflects the rural setting for the MVNV. frequent services between key economic and service As set out in the following section, consideration of the centres – Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. impact from the development on the local road network The East West Rail Company predicts that a one East West and how this can be mitigated, limited or prevented is a Rail service per hour between Oxford and Bedford will be principal development consideration. The development operational by the end of 2024. also presents the opportunity for betterment to resolve

Green Lane PREPARED BY DAVID LOCK ASSOCIATES : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED

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FIGURE 2.4: ACCESS, MOVEMENT AND CONNECTIVITY 15 The opportunities presented by direct access to existing DESIGNATIONS rail stations at Lidlington and Millbrook alongside future connections to East West Rail will be a key aspect of the Forest of Marston Vale sustainable transport strategy for the MVNV. The long-term management and enhancement of the Marston Vale landscape is both a local and national Existing bus services across the Vale are limited. There priority. The national designation of the Forest of are five infrequent bus services (through Brogborough, Marston Vale as a Community Forest is helping to secure Lidlington, and Marston Moreteyne) through the the ongoing environmental restoration of the area proposed site. Two bus services (53 and C10) currently through a comprehensive tree planting and community provide regular services across the day. These hourly engagement programme. The MVNV is located at the services provide connections between Marston heart of the Forest of Marston Vale. The Forest Centre, Moreteyne, Bedford and Cranfield University. based in the Millennium Country Park, lies to the east of the Allocation Site. In line with Policy EE9 of the Only services 53 and C11 operate on Saturdays and no Emerging Local Plan and the principles of Policy SA2, the service operates on Sundays. development of the site will include 30% tree cover. Service 34 runs along the A507 and serves Ridgmont Its location within the Forest of Marston Vale is a defining Station as the nearest main stop from the proposed aspect of the strategic context for the development and development. It provides frequent service on a weekday will be a key influence for the character of the MVNV, its and on Saturdays. range of landscapes, green infrastructure, open spaces Public Rights of Way (PRoW) and also built form. As set out in the Introduction to the The Allocation Site is crossed by a number of Public Development Brief, the delivery of the MVNV within the Rights of Way (PRoW). Nationally promoted routes Forest of Marston Vale is a major opportunity to make include the Marston Vale/Timberland Trail which bisects a meaningful contribution to the creation of the Forest. the site, connecting Marston Moreteyne to Lidlington It is a unique opportunity to deliver the objectives of as part of a wider waymarked 13 mile circular route the Forest Plan and harness its clear placemaking and MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON incorporating parts of the Greensand Ridge. This trail also regenerative ambitions for the Marston Vale. connects the site to the existing PRoW footways around the Marston Vale Millennium Country Park and Stewartby Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Park Lake. The John Bunyan Trail crosses the site east-west in B&MK Waterway Park is a nationally significant the southern section of the site – this is part of a long- infrastructure project seeking to deliver a new section of distance route between Bedford and the north of Luton. inland waterway linking the River Great Ouse in Bedford There are no existing footways (i.e., adjacent to roads) to the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes. The provision within the MNVN site. of a section of the B&MK Waterway is a requirement of Policy SA2 of the Emerging Local Plan. Policy EE10 of The Greensand Ridge Walk skirts Millbrook Proving the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan relates directly to Ground to the south of the Allocation Site, connecting the B&MK Waterway and requires that development on Lidlington to Ampthill. National Cycle Route 51 (NCR 51) the route of the Waterway will be expected to deliver (The Varsity Way) runs close to the northern boundary of the Waterway channel and Waterway Park within the the site through Marston Moreteyne and continues west development boundary. across the A421, and then south towards Milton Keynes. Part of the indicative route of the B&MK Waterway A series of walks and riding routes also start from the Park runs through the centre of the Allocation Site. Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park and pass The development of the Allocation Site presents the through the local and wider setting of the Site and are opportunity for the delivery of a substantial element promoted regionally as ‘Paths 4 Communities’ through of the B&MK Waterway Park as a central element of the Forest of Marston Vale. the green and blue infrastructure network supporting movement, leisure and tourism uses. The B&MK Waterway Park will be a key recreational and ecological asset for the development and could have a sustainable drainage function. Its delivery can also make a significant 16 contribution to the creation of a navigable connection The Greensand Ridge Nature Improvement Area (NIA) is between Brogborough Lake and Stewartby Lake as designated by the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan. Part part of the B&MK Waterway Park and support the wider of the NIA extends into the MVNV allocation site. The rejuvenation of the landscape of the Marston Vale. designation of the Greensand Ridge NIA is not intended as a restriction for development within the area. It is an Ecology area of opportunity for significant improvements to the There are no internationally designated sites within 5km existing ecological network by enlarging and enhancing of the site. There is one statutory designated site (at the existing wildlife assets and increasing ecological national level) within 2km of the site: Marston Thrift which connectivity between them. is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), County Wildlife Site (CWS), Local Nature Reserve. It is also a site FForest of Marston Vale designated area ar subject to Policy EE13 of the Central Bedfordshire Local GrGreenbelt Plan (Outdoor Sport, Leisure and Open Space). There SitSites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ( County Wildlife Site / Roadside Nature are two statutory designated SSSIs located between 2km C Reserve to 5km from the site. These are King’s Wood and Glebe Na MillenniumMillennium C Country Park Meadows, Houghton Conquest SSSI and Cooper’s Hill B alignmenB&MK Waterway adopted alignment SSSI. alignmen SStrategic Employment Allocation CCountryside Gap

There are two County Wildlife Sites (CWS) within the SeSettlement Envelopes site – Brogborough Lake CWS and Lidlington Pit CWS. LLocal Nature Reserves Gr Stewartby Lake is also a CWS. A Roadside Nature Reserve ImprGreensand Ridge Nature Improvement is also within the site at the junction of the C94 and Area OutOutdoor sport, leisure and open space Woburn Road. spacsites PREPARED BY DAVID LOCK ASSOCIATES : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED STEWARTBY LAKE Stewartby Cranﬁeld

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FIGURE 2.5: LANDSCAPE POLICIES AND DESIGNATIONS 17 SITE HISTORY AND THE HISTORIC most prominent lasting features. Within the Allocation ENVIRONMENT Site, more subtle features remain including the routes of conveyor belts once used to move extracted clay material as part of the brickmaking process. The landscape of the Allocation Site has been subject to continued change over recent generations as a result The modern history of the Allocation Site is not solely of the brickmaking industry, its demise and subsequent derived from its role as part of the brickmaking industry. environmental regeneration efforts. 20th Century The land within the Allocation Site and the surrounding industrial activity within the Site was focused upon two area has a long agricultural history which continues to brickworks: Marston Valley Brickworks and clay pit which the present day. Domesday records in 1066 and 1086 was operational from 1929 to 1977 and worked an area show that the area of the Allocation Site formed part of of 44 acres and a smaller brickworks south of the existing the agricultural landscape at this time. A number of farms Millbrook Station. Features of the site associated with this were created during the 17th and 18th century. In 1801 historic use include now flooded clay extraction pits in Lidlington was added to the Woburn Estate, which built the form of Brogborough Lake and Lidlington Pit which several houses in the villages for its workers, including are a legacy of the former industrial use of the Allocation Office Cottages. Site. These features will play a key role in the future as a green/blue infrastructure resource of the development.

Much of the built development associated with the brickmaking history of the Allocation Site has disappeared. ScheduledScheduled Ancien Ancient Monument Outside of the Allocation Site the former Stewartby LisListed Building (within / immediately Brickworks site, including its chimneys, is one of the immediaadjacent to the site) OtherOther lis listed buildings

STEWARTBY MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON LAKE Stewartby Cranﬁeld

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18 FIGURE 2.6: HERITAGE The London and North West railway was built in Listed buildings c.1846, linking Bedford with Bletchley. There are three • Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin and Tower – contemporary railway stations in close proximity to the Grade I listed building located on the southern edge Allocation Site, Millbrook, Lidlington and Ridgmont. The of Marston Moreteyne village; arrival of the railway facilitated the expansion of the • Thrupp End Farmhouse – Grade II listed building nearby settlements. located close to the Medieval village and moated sites at Thrupp End; Gravel pits were mapped at the end of the 19th century at • The Round House – Grade II listed building located Brogborough Park Farm, both north and southeast of ‘The within the Ringwork at The Roundhouse scheduled Round House’. monument; • Moat Farmhouse – Grade II listed building located Heritage within the Moat Farm moated enclosure scheduled There are no designated archaeological assets within monument; the Allocation Site, however there are three scheduled • Millbrook Station – Grade II listed building located monuments and listed buildings which lie outside of the immediately to the east of the south east corner of the site but close to its boundaries. These assets are shown Allocation Site; and on Figure 2.6 and can be identified using the letter • Stone known as the Devils Toenail – Grate II listed references below: stone on the eastern side of Station Road.

Scheduled Monuments There are number of other listed buildings within the area • A – Medieval village and moated sites at Thrupp End – around the Allocation Site: a scheduled monument located to the east of Thrupp End on the eastern edge of Lidlington; • The Old Rectory – Grade II listed – Marston • B – Ringwork at The Roundhouse – a medieval Moreteyne; ringwork (castle earthworks), a scheduled monument • Old School House and Former School – Marston

which is inset to the western edge of the Allocation Moreteyne; : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED Site and to the east of the village of Brogborough on • Marston Moreteyne War Memorial – Marston Brogborough Hillside; and Moreteyne; • C – Moat Farm moated enclosure and associated • South Pillinge Farmhouse – Marston Moreteyne settlement earthworks – a scheduled monument (Parish); located to the north of the Allocation Site between • 8 and 10 High Street – Grade II listed - Lidlington; Woburn Road and the built edge of Marston • The Green Man Public House – Grade II listed – Moreteyne village. Lidlington; • Lidlington House – Grade II listed – Lidlington; • The Poplars – Grade II listed – Lidlington;

19 UTILITIES

A number of utilities cross or are in close proximity to the site and the following should be considered in future development proposals:

• a small part of the north eastern component of the site is crossed by a 400kv power line;

• an existing 132kV overhead power line (Ref. 2E) runs through the site from north to south from across the A421 and Moreteyne Farm north of the site boundary;

• a High Pressure (HP) gas main runs across the south western end of the site. This HP pipe has development restriction zones associated with it as advised by the HSE’s Planning Advice for Developments near Hazardous Installations (PADHI) guidance; and

• a Cemex pipeline has been identified running across the south western end of the site in conjunction with a compound that is close to the C94.

HIGH VOLTAGE OVERHEAD POWERLINE MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON

HIGH PRESSURE GAS MAIN

HIGH VOLTAGE OVERHEAD POWERLINE

CEMEX PIPELINE

20 FIGURE 2.7: UTILITIES HEALTH AND COMMUNITY PROVISION

Health The site lies within the Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). The Bedfordshire CCG is made up of 5 localities. The Cranfield & Marston Moreteyne ward is located within the Bedford locality. The AllocaAllocation boundary Cranfield & Marston Surgery includes two GP surgeries, Education one located in Marston Moreteyne approximately 1.8 EarlyEarly-years provision miles from the MVNV and a second located in Cranfield. PrimaryLower schoolschool The surgery has a catchment area which includes; MiddleMiddle school school Cranfield, Marston Moreteyne, Lidlington, Salford & SixSixth form college Hulcote, Moulsoe, Wharley End, North Crawley, Astwood, Healthcare Hardmead, Bourne End, Upper Shelton and Lower DocDoctors’ surgery DenDentist Shelton. There is a pharmacy in Marston Moreteyne. The PharmacPharmacy closest dentist to the site is located in Cranfield (Cranfield CommunityCommunit facilities Dental Practice). CCommunity Facility PlacPlace of worship RetailRetail and servic services SupermarkSupermarket CConvenience store PPost office HairHairdresser / barber PREPARED BY DAVID LOCK ASSOCIATES : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED

FIGURE 2.8: COMMUNITY FACILITIES 21 Education Open Space, Leisure and Community Facilities Early years’ (0–5) education is met through different Open Space and Leisure sectors but primarily: schools can provide maintained The Forest Centre & Millennium Country Park is located provision; voluntary and private pre-school facilities; full in Marston Moreteyne. There are other large formal day care nurseries and child minders. recreation areas in Marston Moreteyne including Bedford Road Recreation Ground and Hurst Grove Playing Fields Marston Moreteyne VC School (Chimmenytots) and in Lidlington. There is a cricket pitch at Marston Park. Thomas Johnson Lower have pre-school provision for 3 The Marston Moreteyne Parish Schedule 2019 indicates and 4 year olds. The Marston Day Nursey opened in 2020 that there is a shortfall in formal recreation space and providing a nursey offer for children aged 12 weeks to 5 small amenity spaces available to residents. A need for years. one new large recreation area is identified. There is also demand for additional formal parks, facilities for young More widely, Broadmead Lower School, Cranfield Church people including a BMX track, youth shelter and a need of England Academy, Ridgmont Lower and Aspley Guise to improve children’s play facilities. In Brogborough, Lower School have early years provision. the Parish Schedule suggests that there is a shortfall in countryside recreation sites, and for allotments. New Historically, Central Bedfordshire has operated a ‘three- facilities for young people and generally maintenance tier’ school system with lower, middle and upper schools. and improvement of existing facilities are identified as However, CBC is now planning for a ‘two-tier’ primary priorities. and secondary school system which will apply to the delivery of the MVNV. Lidlington has limited provision for children’s play including a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), High Street/ Lower Schools Marston Road Play area, Butler Drive Play Area and The ‘Cranfield Cluster Area’ includes Cranfield, and Riglen Close Play Area. In Marston Moreteyne, there Marston Moreteyne to the west and Houghton Conquest are children’s play areas at Manor Road, Marston Park to the east. It is served by the following lower schools: and Arundel Road. Bedford Recreation Ground has a Marston Moreteyne VC School (Church End and Forest

MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON wider offer including a MUGA. Children’s play facilities End) located in Marston Moreteyne; Houghton Conquest in Brogborough are focused around the Village Hall and Lower; Cranfield C of E Academy (St Peter and St Paul Brogborough Park. sites); and Thomas Johnson Lower which is the closest existing school located in Lidlington directly adjacent to There are a number of sites designated by Policy EE13 of the southern part of the MVNV site. the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan for outdoor sport, leisure and open space within the surrounding villages. Middle Schools Some of these sites have a direct or close interface with Holywell Middle School is the only middle school within the MVNV including Badgers Meadow in Brogborough, the Cranfield Cluster Area. Marston Vale Academy is the recreation ground, allotments and Lidlington located in Stewartby and currently serves pupils living in Community Woodland informal open space to the west Lidlington, Marston Moreteyne, Lower Shelton, Houghton of the Marston Road Crossing, parts of the Millennium Conquest, and other local villages within Bedford Country Park, the Marston Church New Cemetery on Borough. Station Road, the landscapes to the south of St Mary’s Church in Marston Moreteyne and the Wood End Triangle Upper Schools informal open space. Upper school provision is at Wootton Upper School & Arts College. The land to the south and east of the Marston Club, including playing pitches and a play area within the Post 16 Study and Further Education MVNV, is also designated by Policy EE13. A series of Kimberely College is the closest Six Form College located managed woodlands including Rectory Wood managed in Stewartby. Kimberely College offers a range of further by the Forest of Vale Trust, Holcot Wood, Reynolds Wood education options and specialises in science, technology, and Marston Thrift form an accessible landscape to the engineering and mathematics. south of Cranfield, also designated as open space by Policy EE13. 22 Land off High Street is an area of informal open space located to the south west of Lidlington.

Marston Moreteyne has allotments at the junction of Station Road and Station Lane and at Woburn Road. Lidlington has allotments at Sheeptick End.

The MVNV is somewhat distant from the existing range of indoor sports and leisure facilities offered by public, multi-facility leisure centres, with the nearest being the Flitwick Leisure Centre.

Local Services and Facilities There are no existing local facilities within the site. There are local scale facilities in neighbouring settlements, with the highest level of provision in Marston Moreteyne. There are no ‘district’ scale facilities in the Vale. Higher order services, facilities and retail can be found in Ampthill and Flitwick, or further afield in Bedford and Milton Keynes.

The villages of; Marston Moreteyne, Lidlington, Cranfield, Millbrook and Stewartby have village halls which can be hired for the provision of community services and meetings. The Forest Centre at the Millennium Country Park in Marston Moreteyne also has meeting rooms that can be hired. PREPARED BY DAVID LOCK ASSOCIATES : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED

This areas of Central Bedfordshire has limited access to library facilities, with the nearest library being in Ampthill. There is a post office in Marston Moreteyne.

23 HYDROLOGY

The Elstow Brook is the principal watercourse in the area. It flows broadly south-west to north-east. It rises in an area to the south of Brogborough Lake and routes through the central part of the site after which it is culverted under Station Road. From here it follows the edge of Marston Park where it then outfalls into Stewartby Lake. A tributary (the ‘Cranfield Tributary’) joins the brook downstream of Brogborough Lake. In addition to Brogborough Lake, Lidlington Pit and a smaller adjacent pond are substantial existing waterbodies within the site, owing to the brickmaking heritage of the Marston Vale.

According to the Gov.uk Flood Map for Planning, a small proportion of the site, along the route of the Elstow Brook and the Cranfield tributary is affected by Flood Zone 2/3.

EnEnvironment Agency Flood Zone 2 EnEnvironment Agency Flood Zone 3

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24 FIGURE 2.9: HYDROLOGY TOPOGRAPHY

The Marston Vale has a distinct landscape, characterised by varied topography including the higher ground of the Greensand Ridge that encloses the southern boundary of the Vale and a lowland landscape that is marked by previous industrial processes, most notably the extraction of clay for the production of bricks in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Previous extraction pits have either formed as lakes or have been re-used for waste management purposes.

The majority of the Allocation Site sits at the base of the relatively flat valley along the course of the Elstow Brook. Ground levels vary from 60m AoD on the western edge of the site to 30m AoD close to Marston Moreteyne. PREPARED BY DAVID LOCK ASSOCIATES : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED

FIGURE 2.10: TOPOGRAPHY 25 KEY DEVELOPMENT INFLUENCES – Connect to the existing strategic movement OPPORTUNTIES Marcorridors associated with both highway and rail infrastructure. Ongoing and planned investment in these strategic routes will The contextual analysis described in this section of the strengthen MVNV’s accessibility to key Development Brief shows that there are a wide range of economic and service centres. constraints and opportunities which will be important considerations for the development of the Marston Create a new primary movement network to Vale New Villages. Fig. 2.11 illustrates the main strategic Susserve MVNV and significantly improve north/ opportunities. It is important to note that the next stage south east west connectivity in the Marston Vale of the planning process, the outline planning application, and deliver priority for public transport services. will provide the comprehensive analysis of the baseline Resolve existing highways issues such as the context for the development. impacts from vehicles moving through the centre of Marston Moreteyne and large vehicles The influences on the Marston Vale New accessing Millbrook Proving Ground from the AllocaVillages will be informed by many factors from strategic road network via Millbrook Village. both within and outside of the allocation Protect the local highway networks serving boundary. Its location within the designated existing villages but support connectivity for Forest of Marston Vale is an unmissable those communities to the MVNV offer. opportunity to deliver the objectives of the Forest Plan. MARSTON VALE NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT BRIEF : FEBRUARY 2021 BRIEF : FEBRUARY NEW VILLAGES DEVELOPMENT VALE MARSTON

26 FIGURE 2.11: OPPORTUNITIES Maximise connectivity for all non-motorised MVNV is fortunate to be set within a landscape Susmodes of sustainable transport through Tdefined by topography. This should greatly excellent movement networks to ensure influence the future master plan, the horseshoe ease of access both within and outside of ridgeline beyond the allocation area provides a the allocation area to new facilities, services horizon from which to view the site but also a and public transport opportunities including common topographic backdrop viewed from facilitating a new strategic east west corridor within the allocation area. between Stewartby Lake and Ridgmont Station. Learn from the successful regeneration of R SusDeliver an integrated public transport network Stewartby Lake as an example of what can be Rand maximise the unique opportunity to imbed achieved for Brogborough Lake and Lidlington inpublic transport as the primary choice for Pit. Revealing waterbodies to the existing longer trips through the delivery of East West and new communities of MVNV by improving Rail infrastructure and associated upgrades access whilst maximising biodiversity should by establishing a range of direct, safe and be a key outcome of future proposals. Each convenient public connections to its services. waterbody has a unique setting to inform its future character and use. Deliver new connections and links to the Lexisting rich network of Public Rights of Way Delivery of a significant section of the Bedford ne within the Forest of Marston Vale including Prand Milton Keynes Waterway will ensure a waymarked trails. Connect the Greensand continuity of waterway links for public benefit Ridge with the accessible landscapes south of and the management of surface water. The Cranfield. Connect all communities to the on- Elstow Brook, its subsidiaries and the flooded site landscape and the Millennium Country Park. tramlines associated with historic brickmaking Ensure that connections and links are delivered should all feature within this opportunity.

to strengthen looped routes and to provide : ON BEHALF OF O&H LAND ASSOCIATES LOCK DAVID BY PREPARED variety for all users including equestrians. Within and adjacent to the allocation area are a number of heritage assets. MVNV should Complement, respect and integrate the diverse carefully consider and respond to these. Roffer withinexisting villages which provide Importantly proposals must explore their local shopping, community and education, interpretation within the master plan to tell the leisure, and religious facilities. story of this place.

The restored and ‘rewilded’ landscape from MVNV must carefully consider sensitive local Exformer arable fields of the Millennium Country Landscapeviews andc assess development proposals to Park should be extended as a concept and ensure that impacts are minimised. There corridor linking through to Brogborough is opportunity for the careful placement of Lake with the common theme of water and woodland planting to improve the existing biodiversity. landscape containment of the Vale.

Respect the setting of existing communities MVNV proposals should celebrate local views Cand their heritage and sense of place. Ensure into the site from key locations. A key view is a positive response to the setting of Lidlington from passing traffic on the A421T with long its open edges and its more open landscape views across Brogborough Lake. There is character. opportunity for development in this location to respond to these local views through a very Harness the Greensand Ridge as a powerful high quality of design to assist in placemaking Winfluence and backdrop to the Marston Vale. Its and defining MVNV. wooded character can inform proposals and complement policy requirements associated with the establishment of the Forest of Marston Vale. 27