Leighton BuzzCycles shares the news that Central Bedfordshire Council has refused planning permission for the proposed Lidl food store at Spinney Park Industrial Estate (22 May 2025). It is particularly notable, and somewhat surprising, that Lidl did not engage in a modified proposal despite CBC being willing to do so.
Leighton BuzzCycles does not oppose a Lidl store.
Our support is dependent on robust and safe access arrangements for pedestrians, cyclists, and all other road users.
BuzzCycles and others consistently pointed out the application’s significant flaws, highlighting its prioritisation of vehicles over active travel, which failed to meet local and national policy requirements.
This decision unequivocally highlights the critical need for sustainable transport and safe access in new developments. The lack of adequate provision for active travel is particularly crucial given that many people live within a 5-10 minute walk of the site or might pass it on their way home. A significant proportion of shopping involves smaller, “top-up” trips for immediate needs, which contrasts with the traditional “weekly shop.” While the weekly or main shop is still a substantial part of grocery spending (around 40%, with three-quarters of that in physical stores and still in growth), top-up and replenishment trips are currently growing faster. Ensuring safe and direct pedestrian and cycling access serves this evolving shopping behaviour and promotes sustainable travel choices.
Lidl has, in recent years, demonstrated a commitment to cycling through its sponsorship of various cycling events and teams, including the Lidl-Trek professional cycling team. This engagement suggests an understanding of the benefits of cycling for health, environment, and community. Given this positive involvement in the broader cycling world, we hope that Lidl will extend this positive approach to the planning and development of their stores, ensuring that their local outlets provide safe, accessible, and high-quality infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians, aligning their store designs with their demonstrated commitment to cycling.
What’s Next for Lidl?
The decision not to withdraw the application, a lower risk and cost option, is particularly surprising. It’s quite remarkable that Lidl didn’t agree to seek further pre-application advice, especially given the Council’s clear feedback. This leaves their next move uncertain: they may appeal the decision or abandon the site. Withdrawing and addressing the identified issues would have allowed for an improved proposal and a more straightforward path forward, but for now, the ultimate fate of this site remains to be seen.
For more details jump to the section: Central Bedfordshire Council Refuses Lidl Planning Application: The Reasons Why.
BuzzCycles Chipping Away for Change
It often feels as though BuzzCycles are constantly facing headwinds when engaging with the planning system to request improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure. However, it’s genuinely pleasing to see that years of chipping away at these issues are now being acknowledged within the planning process. This progress wouldn’t be possible without Chris, our volunteer Planning Officer. Chris maintains contact with our Central Bedfordshire councillors and reviews planning applications, highlighting any issues related to walking and cycling. His efforts are vital in advocating for safer and more accessible routes for everyone in our community.
Central Bedfordshire Council Refuses Lidl Planning Application: The Reasons Why
The full details of the planning application can be found at CB/25/00576/ on the Central Bedfordshire Council planning portal. Below is a summary of the key points.
Leighton Buzzard, 22 May 2025 – Central Bedfordshire Council has issued a Notice of Refusal of Planning Permission for the proposed Lidl food store at Spinney Park Industrial Estate, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9HH. The application, numbered CB/25/00576/FULL, sought permission for the “Erection of a foodstore with associated vehicle access, car parking, landscaping, engineering and drainage works”.
The Council, acting as the Local Planning Authority, formally refused permission for the development based on four key reasons, primarily revolving around highway safety, sustainable transport, and overall impact.
Reason 1: Compromised Highway Safety
The first and immediate reason for refusal was the proposal’s failure to provide a safe and suitable means of access onto Billington Road. The Council determined this would “compromise the highway corridor in a location where there would be a greater risk to pedestrians, cyclists and motorised traffic”. This aspect of the plan was found to be contrary to Policy T2 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).
Reason 2: Failure to Promote Sustainable Transport
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) places significant emphasis on promoting and increasing the use of sustainable modes of transport, including public transport, walking, and cycling, while aiming to reduce reliance on private cars. However, the transport report and plans submitted with the Lidl application were found deficient.
Specifically, the Council noted that the plans:
- Failed to consider collision data from the Council’s Local Walking and Cycling Improvement Plan (LCWIP).
- Did not account for the existing pedestrian connection from Plover Road, which is identified as a likely desire line for residents from the eastern housing area.
- Did not provide a safe shared pedestrian/cycleway and would hinder the future delivery of a 3.0-metre (or wider) cycleway.
Consequently, the proposal failed to provide safe, direct, and practicable pedestrian and cycle access to and from the site, including safe crossing points and addressing desire lines. This meant it failed to promote sustainable modes of transport, rendering it “not therefore sustainable development”. This was deemed contrary to paragraph 110 of the NPPF, Policy SP2 (which focuses on sustainable travel patterns), and Policy T1 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan (which requires measures to prioritise sustainable access and connectivity).
Reason 3: Unagreed Trip Generation and Network Impacts
The Council did not agree with the development’s projected trip generation, its distribution, or the associated area of assessment. They anticipate that the development would have impacts on the highway network beyond the submitted study area. Without this crucial information, the proposal could not demonstrate that it would not result in “an unmitigated and unacceptable worsening of conditions of queuing, delay, and user safety at critical junctions and on important links within the highway network”. This again was found to be contrary to Policy T2 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (2024).
Reason 4: Absence of Legal Agreement for Biodiversity and Public Transport
Finally, the refusal cited the absence of a completed legal agreement. This agreement was required to secure a 10% biodiversity net gain and enhancements to public transport. Without this, the development would have an “unmitigated and unacceptable impact on existing local environment” and would not amount to sustainable development. This reason was contrary to the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework (2024) and Policies HQ2, T1, and EE2 of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2021.
The Council stated that they “acted pro-actively through positive engagement with the applicant in an attempt to narrow down the reasons for refusal but fundamental highway objections could not be overcome”. The applicant was invited to withdraw the application for further pre-application advice but declined.
The applicant has the right to appeal the decision to the Secretary of State, with specific deadlines depending on whether an enforcement notice is involved. Appeals can be made online via the Planning Inspectorate website
The full details of the planning application can be found at CB/25/00576/ on the Central Bedfordshire Council planning portal. A map showing the location is embedded below.
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