Comment

Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Representation ID: 10408

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: The Executors of the late Nigel Alington

Agent: Code Development Planners Ltd

Representation Summary:

These representations have been prepared by CODE Development Planners on behalf of the Executors
of the late Nigel Alington in relation to the policies and evidence base of the regulation 19 Bedford
Borough Local Plan 2040 (BBLP 2040).
2 Proposals being promoted
2.1 The Alington Estate, Little Barford is proposed for allocation under Policy HOU19 of the BBLP 2040 for
a new settlement to delivery at least 4,000 new homes and in the region of 4ha of employment land.
The policy also identifies, inter alia, “walkable neighbourhoods which will enable residents to meet the
majority of their day to day needs locally” and “the new settlement will provide a range of community
services and facilities including health, education, retail, culture, community meeting spaces,
multifunctional open space and sports and leisure facilities.” However, there is no corresponding
recognition within Policy TC1(S) and paragraph 5.7 that the new settlement will create a local centre
and neighbourhood centres.
2.2 The Town Centres and Shopping Policies Topic Paper, April 2022 refers to the types of centres
(para 2.3). It states, “Local centres include a range of small shops of a local nature, serving a small
catchment. Typically, local centres might include, amongst other shops, a small supermarket, a
newsagent, a sub-post office and a pharmacy. Other facilities could include a hot-food takeaway and
launderette. In rural areas, large villages may perform the role of a local centre.” We recognise that until
a masterplan has been progressed for the new settlement at Little Barford the location and extend of
the local centre within it will not be spatially defined. However, the effective delivery of the ‘placemaking’,
‘accessible’ and ‘prosperous’ elements of Policy HOU19 would be enhanced by the inclusion of Little
Barford as a “Local Centre: Key Service Centre” within policy TC1(S) and an additional bullet point
within Policy HOU19.
Although Wixams is not a direct comparable, wording in paragraph 5.7 of the BBLP 2040 states,
“Wixams new settlement is identified as a potential Key Service Centre as, over the course of the plan
period, the planned town centre will be constructed and, once completed, will serve the settlement . . .”
It would seem reasonable that similar wording should be inserted into the policy in recognition of Little
Barford’s allocation as a new settlement.
2.4 The urban area of St Neots, Huntingdonshire is within 0.5 miles of the northern boundary of the Little
Barford New Settlement boundary. St Neots has been identified within the Huntingdonshire Local Plan
to 2036 as one of four spatial planning areas. This designation is the highest order settlement and
reflects St Neots’ status as a traditional market town and as one of the most sustainable centres for
development1.
2.5 The relative positions of St Neots and Little Barford within the settlement hierarchy, with St Neots
categorised as the equivalent of a strategic or district centre and Little Barford as a local centre: key
service centre (policy TC1(S)) recognises that whist the day to day needs of the residents of the new
settlement of Little Barford will be provided on site, residents would travel beyond the new settlement
for access to higher order facilities. The proximity of the two settlements to one another enables such
journeys to be made by sustainable and active modes of travel.