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Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

Representation ID: 6275

Received: 10/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Bernard Cornwell

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

Representation Summary:

Our client controls the Land at Box End House, Box End Road, which is being promoted through the Call For Sites Process, Site ID 18. This site is available for up to 45 dwellings.

Box End is a small rural settlement located on the outskirts of the urban area in the Parish of Kempston Rural, with a bus service into Bedford and Ampthill. A number of services can be accessed by foot from the site, including a café, a restaurant, employment opportunities, and bus stops. There is also range of services in Great Denham and Kempston, including a primary school, secondary school and sixth form, supermarkets, pubs, restaurants, and employment opportunities at a longer walk/short cycle. The site is therefore in a reasonably sustainable rural location. Development of this site will contribute towards the long term vitality of the settlement and viability of these services.

Being a smaller development, the site can be delivered quickly and therefore can make an early contribution to housing delivery in the borough.

Furthermore, it is well recognised that villages and rural settlements such as this make for attractive locations for self-build plots. Table 12 of the Housing Strategy 2021-2026 shows that there are currently 82 registrants who have registered a preference for Self-Build housing in Kempston Rural and the surrounding areas. The site is being promoted for self-build through the Call For Sites process and provides an opportunity to provide self-build plots in a location where they are required.