Comment

Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Representation ID: 10368

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Liberal Democrat Party Bedford Borough Council

Representation Summary:

Introduction: Context, local and national
Bedford is one of the fastest growing authorities in the UK and delivers its housing need. It is vital that current and future residents benefit from new developments and therefore must have the infrastructure in place to serve their needs.
Claims that local government stops development are false. But it is true that the planning system, set out by the Government, benefits large developers at the expense of infrastructure, health, education and sustainable transport and, fundamentally, local residents.
Due to the way the Standard Method is calculated across the country as a whole, Bedford Borough’s housing target is higher than would be needed if other authorities met their housing need. Because the Borough has met its need, we are unfairly getting a higher target. The local authority should make this position clear to the Conservative Government and residents.
Overall, the Local Plan 2040 must fight for sustainable housing, active travel, access to healthcare, insultation and energy efficiency in the face of the Conservative Government’s cost of living crisis, and local energy generation wherever possible.