Santa Pod racing affected by local building plans
Discussion
Plan to build 4500 new homes alongside Santa Pod will restrict activities at Santa Pod
Bedford Borough Council are attempting to rush through planning to build 4500 new homes in on a greenfield site alongside Santa Pod – the home of European Drag Racing.
In their draft planning document, due to be approved by the Executive committee on 10th January, the BBC states “events will continue albeit on a reduced scale” and “Changes to the nature and frequency of events at Santa Pod will benefit the wider population...”
“Mitigation will include a scaling back of events at the Santa Pod site, especially drifting events which create the most disturbance to residents.”
Additional useful information can be found here
Source : Bedford Borough Council website - Garden Village Topic
Bedford Borough Council are attempting to rush through planning to build 4500 new homes in on a greenfield site alongside Santa Pod – the home of European Drag Racing.
In their draft planning document, due to be approved by the Executive committee on 10th January, the BBC states “events will continue albeit on a reduced scale” and “Changes to the nature and frequency of events at Santa Pod will benefit the wider population...”
“Mitigation will include a scaling back of events at the Santa Pod site, especially drifting events which create the most disturbance to residents.”
Additional useful information can be found here
Source : Bedford Borough Council website - Garden Village Topic
Living in the area, believe me when I say this will be something which is strongly objected to by the local towns and villages. Everyone here hates new houses and as a rule of thumb, big developments over the last few decades have been contested long and hard before anything has gone through.
I live about 2 miles from Santa Pod and smaller developments in the area have been rejected.
Not saying it won't happen, just that it won't be the same as their initial draft documents suggest.
It'd be a shame to lose Bedford Autodrome too, which is also mentioned on that document.
I live about 2 miles from Santa Pod and smaller developments in the area have been rejected.
Not saying it won't happen, just that it won't be the same as their initial draft documents suggest.
It'd be a shame to lose Bedford Autodrome too, which is also mentioned on that document.
[quote]NOISE MITIGATION – SANTA POD RACEWAY AND MIDLAND MAINLINE
xxiii. The provision of a Noise Mitigation Strategy which addresses the impacts arising from the operation of Santa Pod Raceway and the Midland Mainline on the amenity of the site. The Strategy should identify a range of measures to mitigate the noise impact, including, but not limited to:
 engineering operations to reduce the noise at source and/or contain the noise generated
 design and layout solutions to optimise the distance between the source and noise-sensitive receptors and/or incorporating good design to minimise noise transmission through the use of screening by natural or purpose-built barriers, or other buildings;
 in the case of Santa Pod Raceway, suitable delivery mechanisms such as planning conditions/obligations to restrict activities allowed on the site at certain times and/or specifying permissible noise levels differentiating as appropriate for times of day, such as evenings and late at night. Physical measures to be employed include but are not limited to:
 8m barrier/bund combination along the site boundary with Santa Pod;
 The relocation of the drag racing strip to the opposite end of the Santa Pod site;
 The improvement and extension of grandstand areas to act as a noise barrier.
xxiv. No occupation of residential units at the site, as considered on a phased basis, until the implementation of agreed noise mitigation measures and reduction in noise levels within such phases to an agreed level.
[/quote]
This isn't a big housing company trying it on like at Shakey & winning, it's the council trying to meet housing commitments, so I would think it unfortunately stands a better chance of going through regardless of local objections.
It could be a very big problem, does anybody think the Pod could really survive even with the above suggested noise solutions, it would only take a few new residents to complain.
2,500 homes occupied by 2035, so when would they have to start building to achieve that deadline? the first new house occupied & first possible noise complaint would be 2030?
xxiii. The provision of a Noise Mitigation Strategy which addresses the impacts arising from the operation of Santa Pod Raceway and the Midland Mainline on the amenity of the site. The Strategy should identify a range of measures to mitigate the noise impact, including, but not limited to:
 engineering operations to reduce the noise at source and/or contain the noise generated
 design and layout solutions to optimise the distance between the source and noise-sensitive receptors and/or incorporating good design to minimise noise transmission through the use of screening by natural or purpose-built barriers, or other buildings;
 in the case of Santa Pod Raceway, suitable delivery mechanisms such as planning conditions/obligations to restrict activities allowed on the site at certain times and/or specifying permissible noise levels differentiating as appropriate for times of day, such as evenings and late at night. Physical measures to be employed include but are not limited to:
 8m barrier/bund combination along the site boundary with Santa Pod;
 The relocation of the drag racing strip to the opposite end of the Santa Pod site;
 The improvement and extension of grandstand areas to act as a noise barrier.
xxiv. No occupation of residential units at the site, as considered on a phased basis, until the implementation of agreed noise mitigation measures and reduction in noise levels within such phases to an agreed level.
[/quote]
This isn't a big housing company trying it on like at Shakey & winning, it's the council trying to meet housing commitments, so I would think it unfortunately stands a better chance of going through regardless of local objections.
It could be a very big problem, does anybody think the Pod could really survive even with the above suggested noise solutions, it would only take a few new residents to complain.
2,500 homes occupied by 2035, so when would they have to start building to achieve that deadline? the first new house occupied & first possible noise complaint would be 2030?
Thanks for your comments. I have found an interesting document from Santa Pod where they say that they perceive "that the potential development of 4,500 new family homes in such close proximity to the race track as a serious threat to its business operations."
They also say "Attempts to mitigate noise in such a complex soundscape on this scale, given the wide variety of sounds and noise levels emanating from a wide variety of locations and activities would, we feel be entirely impractical and unachievable."
Finally, "On site (SPR venue) sound mitigation would depend entirely on consent from SPR, which would not be forthcoming. We would not wish to comply with any requirement or request to build or install any barriers or infrastructure that would enable the developers to achieve compliance with noise limitations at the proposed development site."
The draft proposals are due to be approved by the Bedford Borough Council Executive on 10th January, and, if approved, a short public consulation will open later this month. I think that obections can be sent at any time to planning@bedford.gov.uk or there is an easy link on www.keepnorthbedsgreen.org that automatically sends emails on your behalf.
Above all, I hope that Santa Pod remains open. It is part of our heritage, as are the green fields surrounding it.....
They also say "Attempts to mitigate noise in such a complex soundscape on this scale, given the wide variety of sounds and noise levels emanating from a wide variety of locations and activities would, we feel be entirely impractical and unachievable."
Finally, "On site (SPR venue) sound mitigation would depend entirely on consent from SPR, which would not be forthcoming. We would not wish to comply with any requirement or request to build or install any barriers or infrastructure that would enable the developers to achieve compliance with noise limitations at the proposed development site."
The draft proposals are due to be approved by the Bedford Borough Council Executive on 10th January, and, if approved, a short public consulation will open later this month. I think that obections can be sent at any time to planning@bedford.gov.uk or there is an easy link on www.keepnorthbedsgreen.org that automatically sends emails on your behalf.
Above all, I hope that Santa Pod remains open. It is part of our heritage, as are the green fields surrounding it.....
Edited by scorpion2 on Sunday 7th January 11:44
Edited by scorpion2 on Sunday 7th January 11:46
There is some hope in the form of the Planning (Agent Of Change) Bill 2017-19. If passed, it would put the responsibility on the housebuilders to deal with the noise, not on the track.
Hopefully Santa Pod will also object to the planning application on the grounds that it will harm thier business, which as any fule no has been located there for over 50 years now.
By doing that, hopefully any noise attenuation measures will have to be the responsibility of the developer, and also a convenant written into the planning preventing owners from complaining about noise on the basis that the track is pre-existing.
By doing that, hopefully any noise attenuation measures will have to be the responsibility of the developer, and also a convenant written into the planning preventing owners from complaining about noise on the basis that the track is pre-existing.
Total loss said:
2,500 homes occupied by 2035, so when would they have to start building to achieve that deadline? the first new house occupied & first possible noise complaint would be 2030?
Big sites like this in the current market could realistically expect absorption of ~100 units per year (excludes social obviously), but can be increased depending on price point/discounting to local market, phasing and whether they can start construction on plots at different ends of the site or not to increased sales rates. Realistically it'll take a good 15 years+ to build out fully (allowing for an element of fluctuation dependent on the falling of residential house-building cycles/further new build government Help to Buy subsidy).This is typical of poor planning, lets build homes right next to a race track and lets shut the race track down
When looking at the area there are plenty of fields miles away from the track where housing needs could be met, but no.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Santa+Pod+Race...
There is a big field the opposite side of Odell Road by Sharnbrook, housing could be built there and it would be an expansion of that village that would already have infrastructure.
When looking at the area there are plenty of fields miles away from the track where housing needs could be met, but no.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Santa+Pod+Race...
There is a big field the opposite side of Odell Road by Sharnbrook, housing could be built there and it would be an expansion of that village that would already have infrastructure.
Edited by Toaster on Saturday 27th January 15:24
Doesn't work like that, parents have lived adjacent to an ex WWII airfield for over 40 yrs, it's now only used by a parachute club and rally school, doubt if any residents were here in 1942 but the "new" residents have managed to stop jumping on Sunday's, lawnmowers and chainsaws make more obnoxious noise than aircraft but that's ok
jas xjr said:
if there is a requirement to mitigate the noise from santa pod then surely it is up to the developer to provide solutions. acoustic barriers and suchlike , maybe plant some trees.
Under the curio that is British nuisance law....no. You can move to a noise source and then b
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