Question 1
Policies need to be put in place to secure elements put in development plans (e.g. Great Denham master plan) are not subsequently removed in modifications because they were 'niceties' or 'too costly for the developer'. CCTV, local art, public house, local facilities such as a gym were all removed in the modification. These 'niceties' are the elements that can join a community together and effectively sell the trust in the plan to the community. The fact they are all smoke and subsequently removed, give rise to speculation that they were never going to be supplied by the developer and gives the community distrust in any future plan. This has been exasperated by the forthcoming closure of the Bedford golf club which has had no protection from the plan or council policies. Another sad loss and dent to the community spirit. The space will undoubtedly be built upon - a long way off the original development plan. Although I cannot play golf, I enjoy walking around the course and the hospitality of the club. I enjoy the scenic barrier it provides, even if not natural, between Biddenham and Great Denham and the benefits to the wildlife it attracts. The simplicity in the wider benefits these 'niceties' provide to health, community spirit and the environment should not be written off from plans and protected for hundreds of years. The environment policies need to be made more robust to protect the diversity of wild life and green space barriers between developed areas. Recent proposals to build across the fields between Biddenham and Bromham effectively linking the sprawl of houses is an example of where this barrier would be removed. The effect on wildlife is detrimental pushing it away from these protected areas into the built up housing estates. Foxes, badgers, moles and mice from the fields are not welcomed freely in peoples gardens. The tree lines in the above mentioned area are also home to a few bat families and they do not have a good reputation with humans at the moment. Also, at one point during the lockdown a pair of kites could be seen out over Great Denham golf course, a delight that will never reoccur in areas that are built upon.
I think the scope is good but an over-arching willingness to understand the interdependence of housing, employment, transport is key as is the recognition of the intrinsic value of Bedfordshire, what makes it attractive and really taking your objective of delivering "a greener, more sustainable more attractive place to live". Imperative that "Bedford's countryside, character and beauty will be recognised" and supported effectively. The recent developments of Covid have reinforced the need to address health and integrate health issues into wider planning agendas- delivering integrated, permanent cycling networks, recognising that any movement to public transport will only happen when public transport offers real benefits over private transport.
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The plan needs to more explicitly include the natural environment, ecosystems and wildlife habitats as a key component of infrastructure, that is essential to our sustained, healthy existence.
Consider updating existing SPA's (Settlement Policy Areas). Most of these have been in existence and not updated since 2012, although a few were amended in the current local plan 2030. Where development has been undertaken that affects the SPA it should be updated.
Updates and improvements are essential, especially Open Space standards. I am pleased that you are reviewing food outlets.
The review should include the aim of providing super-fast broadband to all homes and businesses in the Borough.
As the local plan will have taken a considerable time to develop to its current form I submit that it must be put on hold until consideration has been given to all probable, relevant, major effects which I believe will develop as a result of Covid-19. The consequences of Covid-19 are only now becoming apparent and further will, I believe, continue to appear for an appreciable time. I would submit for your consideration, for example, two relevant existing trends that Covid-19 has significantly accelerated ;- 1. Home Office working, now being actively encouraged by many major organisations based upon their lockdown experiences. This will affect commuting habits, road and rail transportation companies and the provision of office accommodation
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The policies protecting Urban Open Spaces contained within the existing plan should be strengthened to ensure these protected green spaces remain to support health and wellbeing and avoid coalescence between settlements.
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I believe, however, that the word protection should be included. We need to protect those places that have become even more popular and important to the quality of people's lives during lockdown and since the easing of lockdown. We need to protect places and spaces that improve people's mental and physical well being. Places that need protection need to be accessible to help the less able, elderly and infirmed and those using public transport, foot or bikes.
The scope should also focus on energy efficient housing and workplaces The scope should also include access to broadband and mobile reception.
More on the environment More on broadband and mobile coverage.
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I am in broad agreement with the proposed policies although I feel that some policies are more important than others. In particular, the policy to address climate change should be paramount in the approach and ensure that the proposed sites for future development are designed to be sustainable but also to minimise the impacts associated with people moving between settlements and places of work. It is not worth placing people in rural areas if their work places require significant travel. The policy covering quality of development is also important and should address sustainable building approaches. I do not consider that there is a significant need for repurposing the town centre.
With the lack of clarity currently around the Oxford to Cambridge arc and what impact that will have on Bedford, I struggle to see how a proposal can be considered until there is more information regarding the arc and also in light of the pandemic which will impact on Planning as will the current White Paper that has just come out.
The policies relating to the provision of new and retention of existing sports facilities should be reviewed in the context of Governments policy on health and obesity reduction, and the ongoing issues in the Borough relating to the facilities managed by Fusion, and the potential closure of Great Denham Golf facility. Policies relating to renewable energy should be reviewed in the context of ongoing technology development
The policies relating to the provision of new and retention of existing sports facilities should be reviewed in the context of Governments policy on health and obesity reduction, and the ongoing issues in the Borough relating to the facilities managed by Fusion, and the potential closure of Great Denham Golf facility. Policies relating to renewable energy should be reviewed in the context of ongoing technology development
To simplify planning considerations, it might be helpful to incorporate the relevant policies from related documents and initiatives referred to on page 3 of the consultation document such as the local plan 2002. One possible way of doing this is to integrate relevant policies for specific sites as part of an appendix with a link to other policies in the 2040 plan as appropriate. This will help residents and other key stakeholders to navigate planning policies that have been developed over time are still relevant but included in other documents. This will also help the Borough to with their decision making, ensuring that no policies are unintentionally overlooked. In addition, I would consider whether the local plan review should have a specific policy for schools, GP surgeries, transport given the significant growth being planned, especially with the Oxford to Cambridge Arc. While I appreciated that there are government targets for housing which local authorities have to meet, it is not clear what the policies are, either from central government or the local authority, for schools, GP surgeries and infrastructures. While there is standard method for calculating the number of homes needed, these should be a standard method for calculating the infrastructure that is needed to support this housing growth as well. In addition, the local plan review should consider and have a policy for responding to permission in principle applications, a new initiative by central government
The Biddenham Society recognises the direction and requirements provided by the National Planning Policy Framework and, as a result of this, understands the context of the Local Plan. Policies will need to be agreed in the early stages of developing this plan and the Society hopes it will continue to be consulted on these. Specifically, retention and enforcement of Policy 19 is necessary to avoid further encroachment of the green space between Biddenham and Bromham. It should be expanded to include maintenance of the green space between Biddenham and Great Denham, ie to protect the current Great Denham Golf course from being developed.
Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) agree with the scope of the Local Plan review, additional areas that could be considered are: 1. Further policies supporting wellbeing and social inclusion within new residential developments, existing town centres and urban areas and to the natural environment to create healthy and inclusive communities in response to new allocations. 2. Include digital infrastructure and connectivity opportunities. 3. Within the Strategy, the Borough Council could explore the contribution of rural exception sites to support sustainable growth in areas where large scale growth may not be appropriate to provide sustainable development opportunities to support local communities, services and facilities. This may assist the Borough Council with a balanced approach towards development particularly if strategic expansions, new settlements or growth based around the periphery of major transport infrastructure development and urban centres is pursued.
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Agree proposed areas as set out and would suggest that additional new policies are required to address the following issues: 1. Biodiversity Gain - it is imperative that Policies are introduced to ensure that specific and substantial Biodiversity Gain (e.g. +20%) is achieved as part of all development undertaken in the Borough over the Plan Period. 2. Ownership of publicly accessible Open Green Space and housing development boundaries – Policies are required regarding the long term ownership and maintenance of all publicly accessible Open Green Spaces of all types, formed as part of new housing or industrial developments in both urban and rural locations. It is CPRE Bedfordshire’s view that these areas should be owned and maintained by Town & Parish Councils whose actions (including the costs of maintenance) are democratically accountable to residents and not retained by developers as has become the case recently.
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Staploe Parish Council are concerned that holding this consultation during the Covid-19 pandemic will exclude those unable to access digital technology. Many of our residents have no internet access or extremely poor internet connections eg. in Upper Staploe and Honeydon. This means that they are unable to participate in local parish meetings and consultations and download large documents. We appreciate that Bedford Borough Council have been given a deadline to review the Local Plan by January 2023 and that it is vital to have a valid Local Plan in place but we feel Bedford Borough Council should request an extension beyond the January 2023 deadline in view of the pandemic. This would also enable them to gather results of the SHMA, LNHA and the 2021 Census. We would also like you to include an aim to ensure that 100% of properties have superfast broadband within the next 5 years.
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