Object

Representation ID: 6261

Received: 10/09/2021

Respondent: Mr A Sarro

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

There is an underlying bias towards urban centric growth in the preferred strategy options, which discounts further growth in sustainable settlements in the north.

In setting an arbitrary distance from the edge of the urban area, the preferred strategy options remove opportunities for delivering growth in sustainable villages on the northern edge including Ravensden. The area considered to be adjoining the urban area should also include Parishes on the edge of the urban area to ensure these settlements benefit from some growth to stop them from stagnating, and for the vitality and viability of their existing services and facilities. These Parishes present an opportunity for growth in sustainable locations within reasonable proximity of the urban area. Our client would like to highlight that his site at Land East of Bedford Road/Oldways Road, Ravensden (Site 601) would be ideal for achieving this, and is available for up to 70 dwellings.

Sites adjoining or close to the main Bedford Urban area offer similar sustainability advantages to sites within it, whilst exhibiting far fewer viability / deliverability issues. We therefore consider that sites adjoining the urban area should be allocated a slightly higher proportion of the housing numbers (2000) than currently suggested.

The preferred strategies that are being consulted upon are also missing an opportunity to build upon the platform being created through the current Neighbourhood Plan process, a process that Ravensden Parish Council has embraced and is currently undertaking.

Our client therefore raises objection to Growth Options 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d as they fail to provide any growth in the north of the Borough which undermines the long-term sustainability of the villages in this area.