Object

Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

Representation ID: 8068

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr and Mrs Davies

Agent: Aragon Land and Planning

Representation Summary:

It needs also to be recognised the current Health and Adult Social Care provision is underpinned by a principle of sustaining people living and remaining in their own homes for as long as possible. This approach has with the reduced funding has seen smaller care home provision reduce in Bedford Borough.

The BBLHNA acknowledges (para 7.17) people want to remain in their own general needs housing. However, the evidence does then not go on to address the matter and provide an approach as to how housing policy provision could achieve that end. It also makes far more sense if people as they age can remain in their local community and downsize where they have family and support bubbles.


The evidence focuses on older housing with care provision in the form of sheltered and extra care, but not on providing smaller private retirement schemes located in communities. Some of this housing need not be affordable but can provide for decent retirement housing and achieving national planning policy and social care objectives.

Section 7 of the Issues and Options plan needs to take a wider remit and consider older persons housing and smaller style housing so communities can stay together. The Policy SB1 is silent on the retirement housing and a criterion could be added detailing the approach for custom built retirement housing.

Such sites could be allocated in neighbourhood plans in addition to other housing sites, but also it needs to be accepted they could come forward irrespective of neighbourhood plan allocations.