Object

Plan for submission evidence base

Representation ID: 10214

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Ben Pile

Agent: Optimis Consulting

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Representation Summary:

Land off Bromham Road, Biddenham
Introduction
On behalf of the landowner (xxxxxx), I am pleased to formally submit representations to the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Regulation 19 (Pre-submission) consultation, together with the Response Form accompanying this letter.
We object to the spatial strategy set out in the draft Local Plan as matter of principle because it does not propose to allocate the most suitable sites in the most suitable locations. The approach taken by the Council is flawed, not only because it fails to recognise the more sustainable locations for growth, but also because it overly relies upon the delivery of sites that are in less sustainable locations and rely on the delivery of infrastructure that are uncertain and likely to cause delay. The full details of the objections are presented in this representation.
In order to assist the Council in preparing a sound and credible plan we advocate that additional sites are allocated in locations that are sustainable, meet the vision and objectives set out in the plan and present a significantly more deliverable and robust housing allocation.
Proposed site for Housing Allocation
This representation contends that land at Bromham Road, Biddenham should be identified as a residential development site and may be considered in conjunction with land to the east that is available for development. The sites may either be developed in isolation or together as access is achievable off the Bromham Road, where the two sites cojoin.
The land is approximately 2.18 hectares and comprises a small agricultural field that slopes from east down towards the river in the west. Access is gained off Bromham Road to the north. Residential development presently abuts the site to the north and will soon dominate the land to the south as the site off Gold Lane is developed by Dandara Properties. Land to the East has recently been marketed and it is understood that it is being promoted by a developer for residential purposes.
The site is identified on the attached plan (REF P911g 001) and is shown overleaf:
[See attachment for plan]
The adjacent river, the Great Ouse, has a flood plain that extends onto or near the site and technical assessments in the local area suggest that most of the site is outside of the flood plain in flood zone 1, leaving a parcel of land that is capable of delivering 25 or more residential dwellings.
Planning Policy – Adopted Local plan 2030
The site is presently lies on the edge of the Urban Area, but unusually this is bounded on two sides as shown below. Recent allocations (annotated 18 and 23) are in the early stage of construction or planning and once built will provide a clear built-up area surrounding the site, which will allow this site to operate as an infill site, contiguous with the edge of the urban area and provide a natural rounding off of this edge of the urban area.
The site is not affected by any other designations as indicated by the Policy plan below and therefore its proposal as an allocation in this review does not have the effect of undermining the broad strategy of the existing adopted Local Plan or the emerging one.
There is an existing access from the site directly onto the Bromham Road, which is a wide road, recently reduced to 20 MPH speed limit. Bromham Road has a footpath and bus route that provides a service to Bromham in the west and Bedford to the east. It is well located to local facilities, in walking distance to various community facilities such as recreation areas, play areas and retail facilities in both Bromham and Great Denham. A public footpath also extends along the eastern edge of the site that provides a direct route to Church End Biddenham.
The site will therefore be one of the most sustainable green field locations, be it that it can provide homes within easy reach of local village and town facilities and is immediately adjacent to the most sustainable settlement in the Borough. Access to public transport, cycle and pedestrian routes all capable of linking to the villages of Biddenham and Bromham and to the town railway station enable the site to reduce the use of the private car and allows an opportunity to encourage a modal shift:
[See attachment for plan]
The below indicative parameter plan has been prepared to demonstrate how the site could be developed, identifying landscaping and green space on the sites western and southern boundary and residential development extending from the south to meet existing residential development on Bromham Road.
[See attachment for plan]
Conclusion
To conclude, it is considered that the emerging Local Plan 2040 and the proposed distribution of housing within it presents an over-reliance on substantial strategic sites and new settlements. The Council should consider sites that are located on the edge of the Urban Area, such as this one, ahead of less sustainable alternatives. We encourage the Council to create flexibility in the plan to accommodate this site to make a contribution to the delivery of homes.