Object

Representation ID: 4920

Received: 02/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Matthew Brough

Every area has a DNA. Wilstead’s goes back to the Doomsday book and is that of a village with community at it’s centre. Already close to full immersion into the neighboring Wixams development and existing approved development plans Wilstead’s identity is at risk of not just being diluted but of ceasing to exist. The Wixams development will merge with not just Elstow and Houghton Conquest but also Kempston Hardwick and conceivably Shortstown eventually. The result will be an urban sprawl with no identity for any of the parishes. I understand that despite there being significant capacity already in either unsold or not yet built properties that this is a plan to 2040. And whilst I do not like it or agree with it, I know there will be a proposal put forward.

Therefore, my preference is the least impactful to Wilstead’s current DNA and community namely Option 2c. In addition, this allows full creation of whole new settlements that can have their identity created rather than absorbed and diluted in to an existing village. This blank piece of paper should be the dream for authorities to deliver environmentally friendly developments with their own identity and DNA creation.
This is followed by Option 2d but with Wilstead’s development taking place at sites 686 and 819 as they will not continue the sprawl that will join up to neighbouring parishes and will continue to allow Wilstead to have a separate identity without impacting the existing roads, properties, and appearance by affecting the existing framework.
Options 2a&b are to me unnecessary in this area as there are far more suitable solutions namely 2c outlined above.
The infill between neighbouring settlements is already reducing the green space for all communities and continues ever increasing like ripples on a lake. For mental wellness, physical wellness, and aesthetics these spaces and boundaries are essential. Separate identities are paramount to successfully delivering additional housing. If identities and separation were not important then the whole area could just be called Bedford and no planner developer or person with a social conscience would promote that as the dream or their marketing proposal. They know community and belonging are important and this will be at the centre of the councils many other projects. This should be borne in mind when creating new areas and not having to react to the complications that could have been avoided.
You have to have a social conscience. Creating new settlements does not impact an existing settlement directly as there obviously is not one. Therefore, this is of course less impactful for community DNA and objections from the existing community and is the best course of action as outlined in Option 2c.