Of the 8 Key Service Centres identified in the Local Plan 2030, Bromham, Clapham, Great Barford and Sharnbrook were each allocated 500 homes. Shortstown, Wilstead, Wixams and Wootton were not allocated. The growth ratio for both Great Barford and Sharnbrook represented an increase of over 50%, creating extreme expansion that is disproportionate compared to all other Key Service Centres. No further growth should be allocated to these parishes until previous allocations are built out and left to mature and integrate into the previous communities.

New Development Strategy should be a combination of the previously identified Pink and Brown proposals (current Option 2b) with a new settlement at Little Barford, which would support EWR with a new station at St Neots south, and Urban Growth in and around Bedford.

Any further allocation to existing rural villages will increase the use of the car, with a detrimental impact on achieving sustainable transport and will increase emissions. A new settlement is required that can be readily integrated into existing transport networks and support East-West links.

Prefer Option 2b