Object

Representation ID: 4726

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Professor Michael Jeferson

In July 2013 Bedford Borough Council issued “Allocations and Designations Local Plan”. There it set out Policy AD24 Green Infrastructure Opportunity Zones, and under section 7.1 gave as Zone 1: Milton Keynes to Grafham – Wooded Wolds. The emphasis was on linking woodlands and particularly “enhancing the strategic Three Shires Bridleway and Forty Foot Lane.” (page 53) More detail was provided on conserving ancient parkland, woodland, and the historic byway network of green lanes, while balancing access and recreational use.
3. Under Zone 2 the 2013 document recommended the Green Wheel project linking Bedford to surrounding villages through a network of green corridors. This recommendation would have a stronger logic if it specifically incorporated a network of links from Bedford to landscapes offering little or no visual intrusion of buildings or infrastructure for those enjoying the beauty and tranquillity, particularly walkers.
Among the documents linked to the Council’s Local Plan 2040 is the excellent “Bedford Borough Landscape Character Assessment”. This Report demonstrates a close knowledge of the landscapes, history, settlements and individual buildings in North Bedfordshire. In particular, the areas labelled Type 1B: Riseley Clay Farmland; and Type 2A: Hinwick Wooded Wolds. The Council’s Report highlights the rural, peaceful and remote feel of the area. It attracts walkers from a wide area – including Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, and Cambridgeshire – as well as locally. The description of the Hinwick Wooded Wolds area includes: “Network of footpaths and bridleways with Three Shires Way forming an important recreational route crossing the landscape. ”The Report alludes to occasional views of wind turbines, and here it may be appropriate to point out that annual average capacity factors achieved by these are below 25%, and not “at least 30%” as was claimed by developers and their advisors when seeking planning permission. [This writer pointed out this would be the case at the East Northamptonshire planning inquiry but was ignored.] The Report also mentions ground-based solar PV schemes for both areas (one already existing) but again it should be pointed out that such developments are unlikely to achieve annualised capacity factors much in excess of 10%. The current and likely future performance of both wind energy and ground-based solar PV schemes in the area are unlikely to make any significant contribution to the UK’s Net Zero ambitions by 2035 (electricity generation) or 2050 (net emissions).