Object

Representation ID: 7258

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Wyboston Lakes Ltd

Agent: Brown & Co Barfords

The Borough Council’s June 2021 Development Strategy Topic Paper identifies the Local Plan
2040 will need to achieve a minimum of 1,275 dwelling completions a year to comply with
national planning guidance, which represents a ‘step change’ 33% increase on the current
adopted Local Plan annual target. Over the plan period this equates to at least 12,500
additional dwellings to be allocated in the new Local Plan. Taking account of the planned
population growth to 2040, a further 123 ha of new employment land will also need to be
allocated in the new Local Plan. In parallel with the preparation of the Local Plan review, the
Government is taking forward a spatial strategy for growth within the Oxford to Cambridge Arc.
Whilst the Topic Paper concludes that growth within the Bedford urban area would perform
best in sustainability terms, it also concludes this option would have unacceptable significant
impacts. The Strategy Options Consultation therefore focuses on 4 growth options with around
3,000 new dwellings and up to 51 ha of employment development within and adjoining the
Bedford urban area. To assist in meeting the additional growth requirement, 3 of the 4 options
identify a new settlement at Wyboston of 2,500 dwellings or/and a new settlement at Little
Barford of 3,085 dwellings along with up to 20 ha of employment, in proximity of the A421
transport corridor and a proposed new rail station at St. Neots/Tempsford.
The Development Strategy Topic Paper reviews the strengths and weakness of the different
growth options and in respect of the potential new settlements it identifies the following:
Key strengths:
 Opportunity to establish a new planned community at Wyboston and/or Little Barford in
proximity to the proposed EWR station at St Neots/Tempsford. Little Barford has a
stronger relationship and proximity to EWR (but there is a possibility that EWR may also
constrain development capacity – see weaknesses).
 Development in this location would create a second focus for major development which
could potentially impact positively on housing delivery rates.
Weaknesses and delivery challenges;
 In common with all new settlement proposals, a new settlement at Wyboston and/or
Little Barford would have a relatively long lead in time, with a very high risk of a housing
shortfall in the early to middle years of the plan.
 Four of the five EWR routes that are being consulted upon pass through the Little Barford
site and the deliverability of this proposal will require further assessment following the
decision on the route alignment.
 Both proposals will involve the loss of agricultural land, though development at Wyboston
would lead to the loss of higher grade agricultural land.
 The key challenge will be the delivery of two new settlements in close proximity to one
another and the ability of the housing market to deliver them simultaneously.
For the reasons justified by the Borough Council the new settlement growth options at
Wyboston and Little Barford are perceived to have benefits in contributing to meeting the
authority’s future housing and employment needs, which is reflected it their inclusion in 3 of
the 4 consultation options.