Object

Representation ID: 5921

Received: 08/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Tom Tagg

While I fully recognise the need for new homes for the people of Bedford Borough and particularly affordable homes and social housing, these huge numbers are based on completely inaccurate and outdated 2014 housing data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and a much criticised “Standard Method” algorithm which HMG insist that that Local Authorities use to determine housing need.
This is despite considerable disquiet among government MPs and demographic experts including the highly regarded company Opinion Research Services (ORS) which has prepared BBC’s Local Housing Need Assessment – part of this Local Plan 2040.
ORS point out in the Bedford Borough Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) page 12, para 28, that the housing needs of all the people of Bedford Borough over the 20 year Plan period, including those people expected to migrate into the area from elsewhere in the UK, can be met by building 15,442 new homes, a very considerable reduction on 25,500 proposed in the Local Plan.
HMG then insist however, that a further 8,877 new homes are added to the 15,442 to encourage even more inward migration into the Borough. As ORS point out in a comment on page 74 of the HNA para, 6.16:“This level of inward migration is notable …… The extra 8,877 dwellings for inward migration implied by the “Standard Method” represents an increase of 88% over and above the inward migration already included in the most up to date household projection” i.e. 15,442 new homes.
This is a staggering increase with no justification from Government.
The ORS data shows that approximately 70% of the total of 25,500 new homes to be built in the Plan period are to encourage a massive inward migration of people from elsewhere in the UK to Bedford Borough - a key part of the Government’s development plans for the Ox-Cam Arc
These plans will not make housing cheaper or any more accessible for local people – driving a huge inward migration of people into Bedford Borough will simply increase housing demand and therefore increase the price of new homes and building land. The only people to benefit from this will be developers and land owners/speculators.
If accurate, up to date ONS data is used from 2018 Housing Formation analysis, then housing need in the Borough would be roughly the same as the current Local Plan 2030 level.
I am completely unable to accept the figure of 1,275 new homes per year which will destroy the Bedfordshire countryside at a time of Climate Emergency and when the UK is now ranking amongst the most nature depleted nations on earth.