Mid Beds Refuses Center Parcs

11.32.26pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 6th Jul 2006

Where the development would have been

Mid Beds District Council Development Control Committee yesterday narrowly voted to refuse planning permission to build a 5th Center Parcs UK Site on Greenbelt at Warren Wood Steppingley. The application was refused as the majority of councillors did not feel that the stringent test of 'Very Special Circumstances' had been met to allow development on Greenbelt. Councillor Mark Chapman said of the decision "This was a difficult decision to take for all concerned. Personally, I had too many reservations about a variety of aspects of this plan to feel it should be granted. Although not on the committee, I attended and gave my views at the meeting, and it was clear that all the people there (including various groups and many members of the public) had strong views which were expressed in full. The officers report was thorough, and Councillors were able to make up there minds with all the facts available. I a sure that the right decision has been taken in the best interests of residents of Mid Beds.