POLICY LL4: Linslade Cluster
The Neighbourhood Plan identifies Linslade, between the Grand Union Canal and Leighton Buzzard Railway Station, as shown on the Policies Map for the purpose of managing proposals for retail, leisure, commercial and housing. Proposals which deliver the objectives of the Wider Town Centre Spatial Framework (Appendix A) as they relate to Linslade (Cluster Two) will be supported. These are:
- A new multi-modal hub and improved public realm at Leighton Buzzard railway station to include mixed travel uses. This should include a bus stop/interchange, cycle storage, e-bike hire, e-car sharing/ car club space, additional seating and shelters to facilitate onwards active travel, enhance passenger comfort and encourage use of the railway over car use.
- In the “Mixed-use Focus Area”, as shown on the Policies Map, development which strengthens and reinforces the function of the local centre, including the creation of new retail or community facilities. Change of use to residential at ground floor level will only be supported where it can be demonstrated that it would not be result in an erosion of the function of the Linslade local centre.
- New secure cycle parking, walking and cycling routes around the Heritage Focus Area, (located within the conservation area and the setting of the listed building cluster around St Barnabas Church,) which enable better access to the Station, St Barnabas Church and Linslade Recreation Ground will be supported where proposals demonstrate how they preserve local character and heritage in their design and layout.
Linslade is in the west of the Wider Town Centre Spatial Framework study area, beyond the Grand Union Canal. The area rapidly developed in the early part of the nineteenth century after the opening of the canal in 1805 and then the railway line in 1838. It was initially known as Chelsea New Town or New Linslade (the original village, Old Linslade was a mile to the north.)
This area has a mixture of uses with a small number of cafes, restaurants and take-aways as well as a few businesses. The centre is less defined than Leighton Buzzard and the area has a predominantly residential feel with community and recreational facilities including Linslade Recreation Ground and Mentmore Road Memorial Playing Field and Gardens. Linslade is an important area in terms of connections and active travel given the railway station is located in this area. It is important to maintain and improve Linslade’s character in its own right, as well as strengthening connections with Leighton Buzzard town centre and make sure these two areas complement each other with the uses and spaces they offer.
Policy LL4 is framed as a principles-based policy, setting out broad development principles that would be supported. The pre-submission version of the Plan included support for enabling residential development in the area around the station. However, in view of draft NPPF, this policy has been removed given the likelihood of a permanent presumption for residential development in this area. As such, the remaining policy wording supports the draft NPPF emphasis on embedding transport sustainability into both plan-making anddevelopment assessment by taking a vision-led approach to transport (TR1), with sustainable transport considered from the earliest stages of planning to support walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport, and aligning land-use with transport infrastructure. LL4’s principles promoting active travel infrastructure, integration with public transport, cycle routes and pedestrian links directly reinforce these objectives by expressing local policy expectations for sustainable movement patterns, reduced car dependency and enabling better multimodal transport.
To see the full Leighton-Linslade Neighbourhood Plan Policy Map, or to find instructions about how to use our interactive maps, please visit our Policy Map page.