Support

Representation ID: 7781

Received: 23/09/2021

Respondent: National Highways

The LP currently has four emerging preferred options for its spatial strategy;

Option 2a:
• Within the urban area (1,500 dwellings);
• Adjoining the urban area (1,500 dwellings), up to 51 ha employment;
• Transport corridor – rail based growth: land within the parishes of Kempston Hardwick, Stewartby and Wixams (high option) (7,500 dwellings), up to 80 ha employment;
• Transport corridor – south: land within the parishes of Cotton End, Elstow, Kempston Rural, Shortstown, Wilstead and Wootton (2,000 dwellings); and
• Total 12,500 dwellings and up to 131 ha employment

Highways England broadly welcomes developments within the existing urban area in principle. Trips generated by developments within this area have the possibility to remain internal to the town and/or make use of sustainable transport options and therefore may have a smaller impact on the wider Strategic Road Network (SRN) than development in alternative locations.
Furthermore, Highways England supports development on the rail transport corridor as this could encourage longer distance trips to make use of more sustainable methods of transport. It should be noted that the areas of proposed development are also located adjacent to the A421 corridor and will have a notable impact on a number of junctions, in particular the A421/A6 and A421/A428 junctions.
Option 2b includes the following:
• Within the urban area (1,500 dwellings);
• Adjoining the urban area (1,500 dwellings), up to 51 ha employment;
• Transport corridor – rail based growth: land within the parishes of Kempston Hardwick, Stewartby and Wixams (low option); (5,500 dwellings), up to 80 ha employment;
• Transport corridor – south: land within the parishes of Cotton End, Elstow, Kempston Rural, Shortstown, Wilstead and Wootton (1,500 dwellings);
• New settlement at Little Barford (3,085 dwellings) or Wyboston (2,500 dwellings), up to 20 ha employment; and
• Total between 12,500 and 13,085 dwellings and up to 151 ha employment.

Option 2b is similar to Option 2a, and therefore the conclusions reached for that option broadly apply to option 2b. However, Option 2b also includes a proposed new settlement at either Wyboston or Little Barford, which are remote from the other development locations proposed within this Option. Whilst, as with Option 2a, there are potentially benefits of proposed development locations in the town centre and in rail based growth parishes, the development in Wyboston or Little Barford will have significant impacts on the SRN. Highways England, therefore considers that a well-integrated and significant sustainable transport provision is essential to ensure that these relatively isolated development does not become overly reliant on car use.

Option 2c includes the following:
Within the urban area (1,500 dwellings);
Adjoining the urban area (1,500 dwellings), up to 51 ha employment;
Transport corridor – rail based growth: land within the parishes of Kempston Hardwick, Stewartby and Wixams (extra low option; this being the residual required to meet need) (3,915 dwellings), up to 80 ha employment;
New settlements at Little Barford (3,085 dwellings) and Wyboston (2,500 dwellings), up to 20 ha employment; and
Total 12,500 dwellings, up to 151 ha employment.

Option 2c includes proposed new settlements at Wyboston and Little Barford, as opposed to option 2b, which indicated that just one of the two new settlements would be brought forward. Furthermore, this option would include no development in the southern parishes. As per Option 2b, there is the potential that these proposed new settlements could have a notable impact on the SRN. As with Option 2b Highways England recommends that a well-integrated and significant sustainable transport provision is essential to ensure that these relatively isolated developments do not become overly reliant on car use. This option appears less sustainable than other options outlined.

Option 2d includes the following:
• Within the urban area (1,500 dwellings);
• Adjoining the urban area (1,500 dwellings), up to 51 ha employment;
• Transport corridor – rail based growth: land within the parishes of Kempston Hardwick, Stewartby and Wixams (low option) (5,500 dwellings), up to 80 ha employment;
• Transport corridor – south: land within the parishes of Cotton End, Elstow, Kempston Rural, Shortstown, Wilstead and Wootton (750 dwellings);
• Transport corridor – east: land within the parishes of Cardington, Cople, Great Barford, Little Barford, Roxton, Willington and Wyboston (750 dwellings), up to 28 ha employment;
• New settlement at Little Barford (3,085 dwellings) or Wyboston (2,500 dwellings), up to 20 ha employment; and
• Total between 12,500 and 13,085 dwellings, up to 179 ha employment.

Option 2d is similar to Option 2b, although there is also development proposed within the A421 corridor to the east of Bedford. Therefore, Highways England’s comments regarding Option 2b are also applicable here, however the additional proposals on the transport corridor: east could result in a wider impact on the A421 junctions. Similar to other Options a well-integrated and significant sustainable transport provision is essential to ensure that these relatively isolated developments do not become overly reliant on car use.