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Representation ID: 7156

Received: 17/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Richard Hull

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

Our client controls the land to the rear of 20 Lovell Road, Oakley, which is being promoted through the Call For Sites Process, Site ID 328. This site is available for up to 20 dwellings.

Oakley is recognised in the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030 as a Rural Service Centre. A number of services can be accessed by foot from the site, including a post office, church, a primary school and a secondary school, and a public house as well as several bus stops with frequent services to Bedford and Clapham. The site is therefore in a 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.

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 21 registrants who have registered a preference for Self-Build housing in Oakley. This site is also being promoted for self-build through the Call for Sites process and provides an opportunity to deliver self-build plots in a location where they are required.