Wilstead's Duck End Lane: 149 Homes Approved on Appeal

On 10 November 2025, Bedford Borough's planning committee voted against its own officers' advice and signalled it intended to refuse 149 new homes on an arable field east of Duck End Lane, Wilstead. Before that refusal could be written up, the developer appealed. A planning inspector allowed it on 22 May 2026. This episode covers the appeal decision for Land East of Duck End Lane (application 24/01566/MAO, Kler Group Limited): the Local Gap policy separating Wilstead from Wixams ‚ measured here at 725 metres , the harm found to three Grade II listed buildings, and the housing land shortfall, just 3.35 years against a five-year requirement, that tilted the planning balance in the scheme's favour. We also cover the case the parish made , a unanimous 14-point objection, the loss of countryside views from Cawne and Dines Close, the village bottle bank, and the two other housing disputes running alongside this one in the same parish: Wixams End and Village Farm. And the case the developer never spoke publicly but built into the planning record ‚ 30% affordable housing, biodiversity net gain, and a gateway feature for Bedford Road. The field, for now, is still a field. Above Bedfordshire will return when that changes. -- CHAPTERS -- 0:00 The Decision 0:35 Duck End 1:58 The Appeal 3:43 The Gap 4:07 Six Buildings 5:10 The Balance 6:16 The Residents 7:30 The Developer 8:14 The Bigger Picture 8:45 Still a Field This is the first Above Bedfordshire episode from Wilstead. The neighbouring Wixams End story ‚ 375 homes, refused by the council in February 2026 ‚ sits right next door:    • 375 Homes Refused: What the Land South of ...   Subscribe to Above Bedfordshire so you don't miss the next visit to this site ‚ and every other corner of a county that is changing faster than most people realise. #Wilstead #Bedfordshire #DuckEndLane #AboveBedfordshire