Object

Representation ID: 6553

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Bedfordia Developments Ltd and Bedfordshire Charitable Trust Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Limited

Policy E1S (Amount and Distribution of Employment Development) – Comment
2.1 The policy sets out the requirement for a minimum of 8,642 net additional jobs will be provided to 2040. Principally we support Policy E1S and meeting the requirement for additional allocations to meet needs for economic development over the extended plan period. Support for the approach is provided notwithstanding our wider objection to the Council’s position regarding forecasting demand for jobs growth (potentially failing to ensure a sustainable balance between jobs and homes) and its Preferred Options published for consultation (too inflexible).
2.2 However, in order to be considered sound proposed policy criteria (i) also requires modification. This is in order to reflect that the development strategy includes providing support for economic development in Key Service Centres and Rural Service Centres. This is necessary in terms of maintaining sustainable patterns of development and the ability to respond flexibly to changing patterns of demand.
2.3 Our client’s site at Rushden Road, Milton Ernest, would satisfy this requirement and would satisfy other appropriately worded policy parameters on all technical matters (including access, ecology, and landscape). these parameters would be satisfied. Criteria (i) should be modified to reflect that the Development Strategy supports the expansion and intensification of existing sites.
2.4 Additionally, and should our client’s land not be allocated or specifically designated within the Policies Map, criteria (ii) should be modified to specify that the circumstances where providing support for development on unallocated sites include the expansion and intensification of existing safeguarded employment uses within suitably located adjacent sites.