Object

Representation ID: 10263

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Central Bedfordshire Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

HOU14 - Kempston Hardwick New Settlement
10.8 Central Bedfordshire Council objects to this allocation on the basis of our transport concerns as detailed above.
10.9 This site is proposed to deliver significant growth linked to the A421 corridor of at least 4,000 new homes and around 70ha of employment land, although it is unclear in the submission plan, what types of employment would actually be delivered here. It is considered that these proposals will have significant impacts upon Central Bedfordshire communities.
10.10 The policy recognises that the site is reliant on new rail infrastructure at Stewartby Hardwick (i.e. a new station delivered by the EWR rail project) and a new station at Wixams, but we would consider the Wixams scheme much more certain than that of EWR as no decision has yet been made as to the scheme (s) which will form part of the development consent order. Particular attention should be paid to forecasting flows towards the A421 and M1 J13 within any future detailed Transport Assessment. Despite what the site will offer, it is highly unlikely that it will be completely self sufficient as the policy wording suggests and the impact on routes such as the A421 is critically important to Central Bedfordshire.
 
10.11 We are concerned that the proposed new link between Fields Road and Manor Road will facilitate the use of the B530 as an alternative route when the A421 experiences congestion issues resulting from both growth and the proposed widening scheme further east.
10.12 It should also be made clear if ‘Stewartby Hardwick’ and ‘Broadmead’ are both referring to the new EWR station, as the names are used interchangably in the supporting evidence.
10.13 The Submission plan states that a masterplan and design code will be prepared for this site to show how the new settlement can be delivered in accordance with the South of Bedford Framework and will be adopted as SPD. It will be essential that Central Bedfordshire Council is engaged from the outset in the production of the masterplan and design code, to ensure that any impacts arising from the proposals on our residents, communities, serices and infrastructure, are identified and mitigation measures agreed prior to any development taking place.