Object

Representation ID: 10336

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Elstow Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

P roposed Allocations Objections
Substantial development has been included in the Local Plan document with EMP5 and HOU5 both within Elstow parish. On review of Document 52 Changes to the Policies Map it further highlights the encroachment from Policy HOU16 Land at East Wixams in particular. In light of this very sizeable allocation, the Parish Council is also mindful of the large allocation for Policy HOU17 Land at College Farm, Shortstown which will be addressed as well in this response as it virtually adjoins HOU16.

If HOU16 and HOU17 allocations were taken forwards as strategic growth options by the local authority, they would most likely consist of estate-type development which would be out of character with the rural, multi-age and mixed style of the current range of dwellings and rather worryingly create a broad swathe of dense development in the immediate area.

In addition for site HOU5 if it were to be developed it would be mean it would be totally neces- sary for people to have to travel by car into other communities, as these resources are not nearby in light of the isolated location of the pocket of housing.

 Schooling (insufficient places available locally)
 Shopping (local store cannot supply the range of goods required)
 Health facilities (limited locally)
 Onward bus or train travel (limited services, considerable travel time due to insufficient highways network capacity)

Policy HOU17 Land at College Farm, Shortstown
The local community will be able to offer comments on this proposed allocation for significant growth, however the Parish Council feel it is important that within the Policy HOU17 wording it makes reference not just to Wixams but the detrimental impact and clear need for mitigation in Elstow.

SECTION 5: COALESCENCE

The Parish Council can not reiterate how this aspect of the Local Plan as proposed allocations on multiple sides within and adjacent to Elstow are closing in, which bring increased worry over the rural village being totally engulfed. It is fundamental to safeguard the rural historic nature of Elstow that it is does not become lost into Bedford and end up as an urban suburb.

There really needs to be a distinct difference between Elstow village and Bedford (to prevent "coalescence") with the urban town, as well as between the very distinct communities of Elstow, Wilstead, Wixams, Cotton End and also Shortstown so that their historically separate identities are preserved. The potential size of major development would threaten the very heritage of a vil­lage that is described in the Domesday Book.

The existing very stretched parish of Elstow would not tolerate further development on its edges without these developing into separate, isolated, communities in themselves, or necessitating car journeys to the centre. This is a concern to the Parish Council, as well as Elstow residents who have first hand experience of some of the challenges that developing like this already have. It has taken a number of years to integrate Abbeyfields, a new area of the community in with the older part of Elstow village. Growth in the wrong parts of a rural community will be damaging for not just the short term, but also for future generations to come.
SEE ATTACHMENT

Figure 12 Key Diagram, Page 83 in the consultation sets out an overview of proposed develop­ meant for housing and employment sites. It shows a clear distribution of allocations heavily around the area south of the A421 now being defined as the South of Bedford Policy Area. However, the marking of the map again is misleading in how it represents the sites as it places Wixams and Elstow on the section of the map on the same side of the A6.
SEE ATTACHMENT

This is factually incorrect and is inaccurate.

Showing vague, poorly located blobs of roughly where allocations are is not helpful. Having spent more time looking at local policy maps relating to Elstow parish it has shown the clear is­ sue with the allocations EMP5, HOU5, HOU15, HOU16 and HOU17 in terms of coalescence. It has already been raised there is noticeable development closing in on Elstow and looking at the local maps it is really evident, please see below.

The Parish Council feel that there needs to be more done to protect the parishes otherwise it will be one large swathe of development.

Map 8 in Policy 52 Changes to the Policies Map shows the level of coalescence.
SEE ATTACHMENT

This will lead to the areas highlighted by the red arrows which are vulnerable, and them being lost along with the rural village identity of Elstow.