Object

Representation ID: 10265

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Central Bedfordshire Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

HOU16 - Land East of Wixams
10.16 Central Bedfordshire Council objects to this allocation on the basis of our transport concerns as detailed above.
10.17 The submission plan identifies that the proposed allocation forms part of the wider South of Bedford Area, it is however, unclear how many homes would actually be delivered within the allocation.
10.18 HOU16 is proposed to be located to the east of the A6 and the existing Wixams development. It is noted that the proposed policy states, ‘The development is dependent on the delivery of transport improvements which will need to be secured before development can take place in accordance with an agreed Infrastructure Delivery Plan’ and that ‘Traffic mitigation (will be required) for the existing roundabouts off A6 to accommodate the new development;.
10.19 Without further details as to the nature of the transport mitigation required, and the concerns identified at paragraphs 6.4 and 6.5 above, it is impossible to fully understand potential impact and implications upon Central Bedfordshire. The Council therefore at this time, cannot support this proposal.
 
10.20 However, if transport implications can be resolved and the allocation is retained within the plan, due to the cross boundary nature of the Wixams site as a whole, coordination between CBC and Bedford will need to be ongoing to ensure the area as a whole is delivered cohesively. In these circumstances, CBC would welcome early engagement in relation to the proposed SPD for the site.
10.21 CBC and BBC will also need to look at wider cross-boundary issues, including an access strategy and particularly treatment of the A6 junctions and extension of bus routes to create a network for the wider Wixams site.