Object

Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Representation ID: 10394

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: FCC Environment UK Ltd

Agent: Axis PED Ltd

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Representation Summary:

Policy HOU14 Kempston Hardwick New Settlement – FCC support this allocation. As set out within the Call for Sites Submission FCC has undertaken initial feasibility work to explore options of providing a new link road from the A6 in the east across the Site to provide direct access to the land to the west of the railway line which forms part of this proposed allocation.
The new road would be taken from the existing roundabout to the north east of FCC’s site, route through the Site to join the new road network proposed as part of the Kempston Hardwick New Settlement. The purpose of the link road would be to reduce congestion between central Bedford and Kempston Hardwick.
The link road would provide a direct route between the Kempston Hardwick New Settlement and the A421 which forms part of the trunk road network.
As set out within the Call for Sites submission and representations made to the 2021 consultation, FCC’s Elstow South site will become available for development within the plan period. The site has planning permission to be restored to create a site which is level with adjoining land. The discharge of conditions applications to allow infilling work to commence are due to be determined in the coming months.
The ‘Housing Land and Employment Land Availability Assessment and Site Assessment’ (HELAA) document (May 2022) confirms that Elstow South (referred to as ‘Site 947 Land of Wilstead Road’) was discounted at Stage 2 of the Assessment on the basis that: “The site requires significant remediation and is not currently available.”
The Local Plan is required to allocate sites for development over the plan period. As set out above, the discharge of conditions applications which provide the detail on the restoration of the site are well progressed and the site will be restored and available for development by 2031. The HELAA document confirms that for a site to be considered available for development, there are no legal or ownership impediments to development and the landowner has expressed an intention to develop. The Planning Practice Guidance provides further detail on what happens when constraints are identified that impact on the suitability, availability and achievability (Paragraph: 021 Reference ID: 3-021-20190722). It states that where constraints have been identified, then assessment will need to consider what action could be taken to overcome them. Dewatering of the voids has commenced, the discharge of conditions applications are well progressed and FCC intend to commence the infill works to create a development platform in 2023.

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