Object

Representation ID: 6840

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Joanna Ibbett

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc identifies a delivery period of 2050. Bedford Borough Council consider that the draft Local Plan aligns with the Arc in terms of growth and infrastructure, though the two are currently misaligned in terms of timescales. It may be feasible, for example, for a dispersal development strategy to be applied which would align better with the timescales identified within the current draft Local Plan, and therefore accord with policies 22 and 221 of the NPPF. However, large urban extensions and new settlements may need to look beyond 2050, and this would align better with the Arc.

I believe too much emphasis has been placed on the arc and the development that has been required there in. 1 million new homes seems to be a number that has not been calculate but just sounds like a nice round number. How do they justify this total? Shouldn't there be guidelines as to how to allocate this so not all of it happens in one place? Central Beds are looking at a large development at Tempsford and there's still more building at St Neots and Sandy. No one has thought about the infrastructure prior to EWR, which will not be here for some time if it indeed goes ahead. What about moving the A1? Are they going to build and then knock it down to move the A1? How will the traffic cope with this large volume of traffic? What about the trains to London. They are already full and standing room only from St Neots. Who will they cope? With more development, especially Dennybrook.