New facilities:

This policy also responds to the perceived lack of social, community and cultural infrastructure, which was one of the top responses to early community engagement. This policy idea seeks to identify where facilities are lacking and how the Neighbourhood Plan can support their creation/development. This policy idea should be read in conjunction with LL1 and LL4 which seek to support the establishment of community infrastructure facilities and services within the town centre, but this policy will also look at the wider picture across the town to ensure that all residents have access to the local facilities that they need.

The Central Bedfordshire Local Plan states:

“Where necessary, new housing and employment development will be required to make provision for, or contribute towards existing, social and community infrastructure.

The Council will support the principle of new social and community infrastructure, or the expansion or enhancement of existing infrastructure.

Where an application fails to provide adequate social and community infrastructure without reasoned justification, or fails to make appropriate planning obligation contributions, it will be refused.

Local Plan Policy HQ3: Provision for Social and Community Infrastructure

The Neighbourhood Plan will therefore need to evidence why new development requires new or improved community facilities to be provided by demonstrating a current shortfall in provision, In addition the evidence will need to show how existing facilities serve the community, their benefits and how there would be an adverse impact caused if they were lost (except where being appropriately re-provided on site or nearby.)

Mapped existing Community Buildings and Halls are:

1. Leighton Buzzard Day Centre
2. Linslade Community Hall 
3. Foster Institute 
4. Gables Masonic Hall 
5. The Recreation Rooms 
6. Linslade Memorial Pavilion 
7. Reclaim Life Centre 
8. Meadow Way Community Association 
9. Astral Park Community Centre 
10. Pages Park Pavilion
11. Brooklands Club 

Central Bedfordshire Community Facilities Study (2023)

Study Outputs:

The study concluded that Leighton Linslade is performing relatively well if the total number of halls, civic spaces, places of worship and schools that providing spaces for community activities are considered. However, there are specific types of spaces that are currently missing from Leighton Buzzard town centre.

• There are insufficient spaces for arts and culture as the Council’s Library Theatre is the only performance space with a relatively limited capacity (170 seats)
• There is no facility to display Leighton Buzzard’s history. The only facility related to heritage is Leighton Buzzard Railway
• There are no studio or gallery spaces for the artists and places for rehearsals are limited
• There are limited spaces that can host 100+ people. Brooklands Club can host up to 200 people but it is not open during the day. The Recreation Rooms can host up to 120 and Astral Community Centre can host up to 100 people
• There are several leisure facilities and schools that offer spaces for community meetings and activities. Although, community groups are not always aware of what is available.
• There maybe scope to maximise the use of available facilities such as schools and places of worship outside their core function.