Planning – Application Comments

I am writing to express my support for the planning application.

The previous operations as a shoe factory and window manufacturer resulted in frequent heavy vehicle traffic, with lorries constantly entering and exiting the premises throughout the day. In contrast, the new business operates on an appointment-only basis, which allows for better management of client visits and significantly reduces daily traffic and congestion in the neighborhood.

Moreover, the new owners have plenty of space on their property for their staff and customers to park so this doesn't affect the parking on the roadside. Also, they allow a few of the neighbours to park on their property.

Given these factors, the proposed change of use presents a beneficial and well-considered plan that aligns with both the operational needs of the business and the well-being of the community. I fully support this application and believe it will be a valuable addition to the neighborhood.

Planning Application 25/00716/S73A
Change of use from Commercial Premises (Class E) to Vehicle Workshop (Sui Generis) (Retrospective)

I am writing to submit my objections to above application. This is the third application for Stuart Road Kempston lately, whereby businesses or other operations have commenced operating without the proper consent and then submitted a retrospective application. They appear to have continued operating whilst awaiting the decision. Therefore, the company has breached Planning Regulations and apparently, continue to operate whilst awaiting the process, seemingly with no consequences.

The Building Itself
Firstly, I was led to believe that the building is a listed building, equally, it is meant to contain asbestos, internally. Works have already taken place on altering the premises without approval or supervision surrounding dangerous materials, in theory, placing both the residents and work force at considerable risk. I trust the Planning Department will be able to confirm the status of the building and materials from previous applications.

Parking
As Planning is only too aware, Stuart Road suffers severe parking problems due to businesses on both Bedford Road and in Stuart Road itself and residents on Bedford Road. F3 Motors have continually parked three to four vehicles on a daily basis, sometimes for days at a time at the top end of Stuart Road, where most residents do not have the privilege of drives. These often remain on the street until they are processed and added to the website for sale. Some of these vehicles have not been taxed and although reported to both the Council and the DVLA, action has been rare. The impact on parking is continual and unlike other businesses, are there day and night. Equally, a car transporter was parked for months at the top end of the street. Following complaints it seemed to be moved to a neighbouring street.

Staff also park on the street, despite the fact that the business has a lot of parking space within the premises.

Ingress and Egress of Emergency Vehicles
Previous applications for Change of Use have been refused on the grounds of the entrance and manoeuvrability of emergency vehicles to gain access to the site, are severely restricted. I do not think this has changed so still remains a problem.

Overdevelopment impacting on the character of the Area.
Stuart Road seems to have almost been targeted by a number of applications lately all of whom continue to have operated freely before applications and while they are ongoing. This is drastically changing the character of the area. All seem to be able to operate freely, despite not having the appropriate permission. Does this not invalidate insurance of premises? The impact should anything happen will be on the residents without redress, and anyone on site at the time.

Planning seriously need to consider what is happening to our 'residential' street and take appropriate action to prevent this sort of breach of planning rules and regulations. As residents, many of us feel disheartened by the blatant disregard to us, the area and rules supposedly to prevent this type of thing occurring.

I am devastated by the way our once pleasant road has changed beyond recognition by the inconsiderate business owners who over the last couple of years, have set themselves up under the noses of the council without permission and cause havoc to local Residents. F4 is one of them. Transporters go up and down our narrow and heavily parked road, often taking up spaces or dumping cars with out tax on the road side for weeks on end. We now have 3 garages operating in Stuart Road and Tempsford Street. It really does feel like we are living on an industrial estate. The pavements are getting damaged, the street looks grubby and the parking issues are an absolute nightmare. Planning, I beg you please, please put the Residents of Stuart Road first.

Repairs are already been done at the premises which backs onto our office. They empty their car park and place these vehicles on Stuart Road, Kempston which is causing parking issues for residence and businesses in this area. When repairs are being carried out the black gate to the yard is closed and repairs are carried out under the carport most days.

I am writing to give reasons for my objection to Application No. 25/00716/S73A for the Change of Use from Commercial Premises Class E to Vehicle Workshop (Sui Generis)(Retrospective) - 1 Stuart Road, Kempston, MK42 8HS.
Having downloaded the paperwork submitted to Bedford Borough Council which is attached to the planning application I would like to comment as follows:
1. The development has already been commenced. Work was carried out in the main warehouse within the grounds approximately one year ago. The floor was concreted and the brickwork to the entrance to the main warehouse was cut away to make the entrance wider.
2. According to the Design & Access Statement "the site is currently limited to the sales and storage of vehicles only and no vehicle repairs are undertaken on the site. The main warehouse building is used mainly as a photo studio to create adverts for online retail outlets such as Autotrader."
This statement is untrue. Work is being carried out on vehicles on the premises. The noise made by the tools can be heard from residences in Stuart Road and also along Bedford Road.
3. Under the section titled 'Vehicle access, highways and parking' it states, "that a 7.5 tonne vehicle transporter can enter the site, manoeuvre and exit the site in a forward gear."
F3 Motors who trade at the site parked a transporter/recovery vehicle on Stuart Road for months. This took up the space which could have accommodated 2 vehicles.
4. It is also stated that "adequate visitor and staff parking can be accommodated on site therefore no impact to on-street parking provision is anticipated".
At the present time visitors to the site as well as staff park on Stuart Road. The owners have also blocked in vehicles on a driveway and when asked to move they have been confrontational to say the least causing passers-by to intervene in an altercation and residents to come out of properties to see what was going on.
5. The location of the site is at a point where the road is narrow. This causes congestion with traffic and concerns for safety of road users and pedestrians.
6. If emergency service vehicles were required to attend the site a fire engine would not be able to access the site. Previous planning applications by others have been denied due to emergency access not being feasible.
7. The site has been running and selling cars since 2023. It was not originally called F3 Motors and the company operating at the site had been 'dissolved' according to Companies House.
8. Cars being advertised and sold by F3 Motors and before it was named F3 Motors have been parked on Stuart Road, on yellow lines and half on the pavement. These cars are not taxed or MOT'd and should not be parked on residential streets.
9. Many cars which have been parked on Stuart Road illegally have been reported and parking tickets have been issued.
10. The parking on Stuart Road and Tempsford Street is limited and causing concerns for residents.
There are ongoing issues with the Social Club at the top of Stuart Road and stipulations are contravened regularly and Stuart Road is vastly becoming overpopulated with businesses and the overdevelopment is severely impacting the character of the area.
The change of use application (Application No. 25/00716/S73A) is not the only change of use application currently being proposed in Stuart Road. Both applications have already had development started and even completed.
Business owners are taking advantage of Bedford Borough Council and residents within the area.
If the current applications for change of use are permitted Bedford Borough Council should rename Stuart Road as Stuart Road Industrial Estate. If permitted Planning Services within Bedford Borough Council should also hang their heads in shame at allowing a once pleasant area for residents to live to become a 'free for all' for businesses who are hell bent on flouting the laws.
For the reasons which I have stated above I strongly object to the proposed application.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS 17/09/2025
I understand that you are the case officer working on the above change of use planning application and that, to date, no decision has been made regarding the application.

I would like to bring the following to your attention:

Since January 2024 several reports were made by myself and other neighbours in Stuart Road about cars, which were being advertised for sale on F3 Motors website, being parked on Stuart Road and Tempsford Street. These cars did not have valid MOT and tax. Although this is not happening as often, cars have still continued to be parked illegally.

Since April 2025 the occupiers of the former PJ Shoes building, trading as F3 Motors, have been parking their own vehicles and that of their contractors on Stuart Road. These vehicles have been parked partly on the pavement and partly on the road. Also, at times, they have parked partly on the pavement and partly on double yellow lines.

Parking partly on the pavement can cause issues for people with pushchairs and mobility scooters as the pavement is restricted. It is especially frustrating for residents and pedestrians on Thursdays when it is bin collection day.

Several reports have been made to Bedford Borough Council's Parking Enforcement who have advised on each occasion that 'there are no verge restrictions in place on Stuart Road'. When it has been pointed out to Parking Enforcement that there is little room for pedestrians when vehicles are partly parked on the pavement and wheelie bins are left out the response was 'bins being put out will have to be reported to the waste and refuse collection team'.

Putting bins out on collection day should not be reported. Residents have a right to put their bins out for emptying.

Since 2024 several emails have been sent to the MP, Mr Yasin, and the local councillors, Councillor Nawaz and Councillor White.

I recently spoke to Councillor Nawaz who has urged residents to continue to raise issues being caused.

I hope that you will take the time to read the above and to look into matters.

Thank you, in advance, for your attention to the above.

Kind regards,

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