Support

Representation ID: 7930

Received: 20/09/2021

Respondent: Pavenham Parish council

As indicated above, the Parish Council recognises the challenges facing the Borough Council in terms of the required 33% increase in housing provision above the allocated provision in the Local Plan 2030, the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and even the promised improvements to the Black Cat junction on the A1. The Parish Council is concerned, however, that – although probably unavoidable – the Borough Council is having effectively to speculate and plan for what only might happen.
The Parish Council has noted the substantially increased housing provision target leading to the need to allocate 12,500 new dwellings – in simplistic terms 1,275 new dwellings a year – as opposed to the figure of 970 dwellings a year as contemplated by the Local Plan 2030.

Whilst the Parish Council notes the possible option of a “stepped trajectory approach” and indeed recognises the underlying logic, the Parish Council would caution whether such an approach brings with it serious attendant risks. To achieve a target provision of 970 dwellings a year up to 2030 and then increasing the target somewhat radically to 1,580 dwellings a year for the last 10 years of the Plan period would make the Borough Council entirely dependent on the successful implementation of both the East West Rail section through Bedford Borough (including new and remodelled stations) and the completion of the Black Cat junction improvements. The Parish Council does not currently see the successful completion of either project within the Borough Council’s contemplated timescale as a certainty. It is acknowledged that practicality and what can actually be achieved on the ground enters the equation, but the Parish Council believes that a stepped trajectory approach should not be adopted as a core principle.

The Parish Council notes that Policy 58S (Affordable Housing) and 59S (Housing mix) will be updated once the draft Plan’s viability exercise has been completed and the Parish Council, in light of its own proposed residential allocation, will be happy to assist in terms of comment.

As far as identifying the locations for future growth is concerned, the Parish Council notes that the Borough Council has identified seven options, ranging from growth in the urban area, growth in villages and/or new town settlements in the A6 or A421 corridor.

The Parish Council also, however, notes from the wording of this Consultation Document that whilst the Borough Council has identified a number of preferred options, all or a mix of the identified options remain open for consideration. In this context, the Parish Council has carefully reviewed the Borough Council’s Issues and Options paper (June 2021) and fully supports the conclusions that have been drawn from that earlier consultation.