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Representation ID: 6242

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: IM Land

Agent: Barton Willmore

National Context and Plan Period
Paragraphs 1.5 to 1.52 of the Strategy Option and Draft Policies consultation document set out the national context and the Council’s reasoning for extending the plan period to 2040.
Paragraph 22 of the NPPF sets out that strategic policies should look ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption, to anticipate and respond to long-term requirements and opportunities, such as those arising from major improvements in infrastructure. The current indicative timetable aims for the Plan to be adopted at the end of 2023. The Council acknowledges that a longer timescale would have the advantage of giving certainty for a longer period, however, there are many important strategic decisions that will affect the scale and form of growth in and close to Bedford Borough in the medium and longer term that are likely to be made in the next few years. We therefore agree that the plan period is appropriate in these circumstances.
The Arc Spatial Framework is also currently in preparation, with the first stage “Creating a vision for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc” currently ongoing until 12th October 2021. The Framework is expected to be implemented at the end of 2022 or at the start of 2023 (at a similar time or a little earlier than the expected examination/adoption of the BBLP 2040). The Council recognise that the Local Plan and Framework share many overarching principles relating to economic growth and the natural environment. We agree with the Council’s commitment to support the expansion of existing businesses and to attract inward investment and to make provision for significantly more homes as described in the Arc joint declaration. The current consultation is at a very high level, however, it outlines the overall commitment of the Framework. This includes examining (and where appropriate, developing) the case for new and/or expanded settlements in the Arc, including options informed by possible East West Rail stations between Bedford and Cambridge and growth options at Cambridge itself. The government will undertake additional Arc consultations on any specific proposals for such options as appropriate. The Spatial Framework will guide the future growth of the Arc to 2050, including on the question of new housing and infrastructure and will, as part of its development, take into consideration any significant new housing and infrastructure coming forward to meet the Arc‘s ambition. It is therefore vital that the Council work alongside the Oxford-Cambridge Arc to ensure the BBLP 2040 and the Spatial Framework align as far as possible. As the timescales for the preparation and submission of the BBLP 2040, do not allow the plan making process to follow the publication of the Spatial Framework, we would encourage to Council to commit to a further early review to ensure that the Borough’s Local Plan remains aligned with the Spatial Framework and to be able to fully take advantage of and support the opportunities brought to the Borough by the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.