Support

Representation ID: 7872

Received: 23/09/2021

Respondent: Central Bedfordshire Council

We have reviewed the four emerging preferred options for growth and support the Council’s decision to consider their development strategy alongside the opportunities available to promote sustainable and healthy communities.

As stated in our previous response, CBC remains of the view that in the first instance, brownfield and previously development land should be utilised to its maximum capacity before looking to greenfield land to deliver growth. The urban based location options would offer huge benefits in terms of sustainability and growth could be successfully delivered without the need for new large-scale road infrastructure. Intensification of sites within Bedford should be fully considered in line with the estate regeneration objectives of the NPPF and the decisions around East West Rail that have now been taken, which provide confidence in terms of infrastructure in this area.

We are pleased to see that the Council has assessed the likely transport effects of four development scenarios, and we have reviewed the detail provided in the Transport Model Assessment Report and the Development Strategy Topic Paper. CBC would want to ensure that the full extent of planned growth within the recently adopted Central Bedfordshire Local Plan has been taken into account when considering the growth options and their potential impacts.

It is acknowledged in the Transport Assessment report that some of the existing roads are either close to/at capacity or in some cases exceeding capacity already. As such, it is absolutely essential that further, more detailed assessment is undertaken to ensure any potential growth locations do not have impacts on the network that cannot be mitigated. We note the Assessment Report makes no mention of capacity issues on the A1 or J13 of the M1, both of which are key connections to the A421 running through Bedford. These must be factored into any assessment when considering growth in BBC. Both were considered during the CBC Local Plan examination, and capacity constraints were acknowledged. Mitigation to accommodate the development proposed within the CBC Local Plan was agreed by Highways England for J13, but it is not clear that any additional capacity could be accommodated moving forward. This is a key junction, which will be impacted by growth within CBC, Milton Keynes (MK) and BBC. Joined up thinking is required to ensure we can all successfully achieve the growth required in each of our areas.

Some of the scenarios being considered in this plan are to create new settlements around Wyboston/Great Barford, which will be adjacent to the A1 and will clearly increase flows on that route. The capacity of the A1 must be a key part of any consideration of these sites and further work is required to fully understand its capacity and constraints, and potential solutions. Bearing in mind the known constraints here, this would likely involve the need for large-scale intervention, such as realignment. CBC would welcome the opportunity to be involved in such work. As stated in our previous response, we would question whether growth could be considered in these locations without a commitment to such interventions, which would undoubtedly require government funding.

It is also noted that these locations for growth are dependent on an EWR station coming forward in this location. Whilst considering locations in close proximity to rail infrastructure is welcomed, it should be noted that the plans for EWR are still at early consultation stage and a DCO application has yet to be submitted, as such, there can be no certainty attached to the potential location of any new stations.