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Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation
Representation ID: 5380
Received: 03/09/2021
Respondent: Ms Jackie Brand
I agree with policy TC2: Only if suitable sites are not available in the town centre and district centre, should out of centre sites be considered.
However, to support this policy, rents need to be attractive for businesses to set up and stay in the centre. Section 4.16 of The Bedford Town Centre study commented “However, in Bedford,....., with a greater proportion of vacant units, and certainly vacant floorspace, in its core. This is perhaps indicative of retail rents being more affordable for start-up businesses on the edges of the Town Centre, as opposed to in its central areas.”
I agree with policy TC2: Only if suitable sites are not available in the town centre and district centre, should out of centre sites be considered.
However, to support this policy, rents need to be attractive for businesses to set up and stay in the centre. Section 4.16 of The Bedford Town Centre study commented “However, in Bedford,....., with a greater proportion of vacant units, and certainly vacant floorspace, in its core. This is perhaps indicative of retail rents being more affordable for start-up businesses on the edges of the Town Centre, as opposed to in its central areas.”