Question 7

4.10.1 As set out in our responses to the previous questions, the local plan’s spatial strategy must provide settlements across the hierarchy with the opportunity to benefit from opportunities associated with growth, including improved connectivity to other economic centres through East-West Rail. A balanced approach to housing distribution will assist in in improving the value of the economy across Bedford Borough.

This form is submitted on behalf of 3 landowners who are promoting opportunity sites in the Borough: Providing growth along and around the strategic connections between Oxford and Cambridge (e.g. A421 and East-West Rail) are considered key to acting as draws into the Borough and increasing the value of its economy.

5.8 The location of Bedford within the OxCam Arc provides a unique opportunity. Although it will enhance connectivity to Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge, Bedford’s geographical proximity to Cambridge means the latter will provide the greatest connection. To capture the benefits of this connectivity, it is likely that the Cambridge jobs market will be opened up to residents of Bedford. Furthermore, the Cambridge cluster is increasingly spatially concentrated, with a lot of technology companies seeking to be in Cambridge City as a global centre for this type of work (employment sites outside Cambridge but as close as Cambourne have not had significant take-up partly for this reason). However, increased connectivity to the city through East-West Rail might encourage dispersal of some of this growth to other centres. 5.9 The key to capturing these benefits will be development in Bedford at scale. This means providing enough homes to encourage people to live in Bedford who work within the OxCam Arc but would currently choose another location to live. In addition to capture benefits and assist existing residents in terms of employment location and growth, there would also be a need to deliver employment space at scale to maximise the benefits. 5.10 TwinWoods Garden Community provides the scale of development to deliver a step change in residential and employment population to capture economic benefit and increase the value of the Bedford economy.

This form is submitted on behalf of 4 landowners who are promoting sites available for self-build dwellings: Providing growth along and around the strategic connections between Oxford and Cambridge (e.g. A421 and East-West Rail) are considered key to acting as draws into the Borough and increasing the value of its economy.

This form is submitted on behalf of 15 landowners who are promoting small sites in the rural area: Providing growth along and around the strategic connections between Oxford and Cambridge (e.g. A421 and East-West Rail) are considered key to acting as draws into the Borough and increasing the value of its economy.

Providing growth along and around the strategic connections between Oxford and Cambridge (e.g. A421 and East-West Rail) are considered key to acting as draws into the Borough and increasing the value of its economy.