Under Local Plan 2030, Great Barford and Sharnbrook received a disproportionately large allocation of over 50% growth which will take many years to mature into the local communities. These villages must not receive additional burden this time. Any future allocations should concentrate on a new Settlement and the Urban, Residential and Business Growth area the southwest of Bedford, to include Stewartby that was left out of the current Local Plan 2030.

Option 2b would fill this objective, with a New Settlement at Little Barford to support an EW Rail station and take advantage of the improved road network from Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet.

Option 2b is best.