Plans to build 105 homes on former school site

Developers have submitted plans to build 105 new homes on the site of a former school despite it being designated as urban open space.

The former Robert Bruce Middle School site in Kempston, near Bedford, closed in 2016 and was demolished last year.

The developer said that although it is an open space, it has not been publicly accessible for over nine years.

They added that their scheme would provide a new publicly accessible green space and a children's play area.

The planning statement notes that Bedford Borough Council currently has only a 3.35-year housing land supply, which, under national policy guidelines, supports new housing development unless the harms outweigh the benefits.

The former middle school suffered a large fire in 2022, which Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said engulfed about 25% of the three-storey 1960s building.

The application proposes a mix of houses and apartments up to three storeys, along with new road access, pedestrian and cycle routes, public open space and drainage infrastructure.

One objector wrote on Bedford Borough Council's planning portal to question the planned site access, saying the proposal "will be unacceptable" for fire safety.

Another commented that they were concerned about the vehicle access route onto Bedford Road.

"It is already difficult for traffic to exit Hillgrounds Road during busy periods," they wrote.

Thirty-two homes would be classed as affordable housing, with a split of 25 for affordable rent and seven for shared ownership.

The overall consultation expiry date is 19 February 2026.

The proposed development is next to a new special educational needs and disabilities (Send) school.

The £26m Rivertree Free School opened in February last year after delays caused by a redesign.

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