Object

Representation ID: 3855

Received: 26/08/2021

Respondent: David Michell

Colmworth Parish Council has produced the following analysis of the proposed Dennybrook development and I agree with their conclusion that we should object to it. I have added my concern about the increasing risk of flooding caused by extreme weather events and proximity to the River Great Ouse.
The Dennybrook development would overwhelm Colmworth as a separate community, creating a sprawling suburban environment and bringing significant traffic congestion to our narrow and twisting roads. It would dominate the local environment with heavy construction traffic for the next 30 years and more.
• Dennybrook is a proposed development of over 10,000 homes that would stretch from Colmworth to the A1 at Eaton Socon. The development would be approximately the size of Biggleswade, 2/3rds the size of St Neots. The homes would bring around 20,000 extra cars, plus the respective volume of white vans etc, totally overwhelming the local road network. This proposal is hugely excessive and would totally erase a very rural area and its historic settlements.
• The land comprising this 2,400 acre site is largely Grade A agricultural land, growing essential crops. There is no brownfield element to the site, a priority under the Government's National Planning Policy Framework. Other (rejected by BBC) proposals for LP40 such as Twinwoods include brownfield elements and should be prioritised.
• The site lies in a very rural area with few access roads and minimal infrastructure. Apart from the far east end of the site near St Neots, the only road access points are unclassified roads incapable of handling the traffic volume. Several roads immediately surrounding and within the site are single-track roads, yet none are scheduled for widening.
• The scale of the project would create significant disruption from construction traffic extending beyond 2055, that is an unacceptable burden on neighbouring communities.
• The site has comparatively poor access to Bedford itself, many residents will favour St Neots which adds further economic damage to Bedford town centre which is in serious decline.
There is no shortage of high-quality development opportunities for inclusion in LP40. The call-for-sites by BBC returned over 430 responses totalling in excess of 70,000 plots against a need of approximately 12,500 plots for completion of the plan. There is no need to consider something as large and destructive as the Dennybrook proposal.
• It is difficult to understand how the site would contribute greatly to BBC's housing need when potential residents would more likely be attracted from the St Neots area, particularly those reliant on methods of transport other than the car. Thus the site will likely fail to support Bedford housing needs in proportion to the scale of the development.
• The location of the site means that, for employment purposes in particular, many residents will be commuting above-average distances and will be almost wholly reliant on private cars. The distances for most would not encourage walking or cycling and while there is a new railway station planned for the area, possibly around Tempsford or Little Barford, this will not be close enough to avoid using the car for access.
• BBC noted in their assessment of this site in 2019 "The site is located in a relatively convenient location for vehicle journeys on the strategic road network, which may be a deterrent to non-motorised travel." In no way can this site be considered to be an environmentally sound or sustainable solution to BBC's housing needs.
• I am concerned that the proposed site is close to the River Great Ouse and global warming is already causing extreme rainfall events on a more frequent basis. Proposed housing density is high, the ground is clay and the area to absorb rainfall will be substantially reduced by buildings, which will lead to more surface water flooding within the proposed site.
• Recent developments at Wixhams, Shortstown and Bedford Riverside have been depressingly poor, architecturally, and I fear that left to market forces, builders will seek only to maximise returns with little regard for diverse, interesting and innovative design. Does Bedford Borough Council Planning Dept have the resources and talent to ensure that we don't repeat past mistakes?