Object

Representation ID: 8435

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs G Hunt

Agent: DLP Planning Limited

This section addresses two main themes. It firstly sets out the shortcomings of the Vision in terms of reflecting comprehensive opportunities for sustainable development across the borough. Secondly, it addresses that while there are many positive aspects of outcomes sought under the vision these will not be addressed as part of the strategy due to the Council’s selected Preferred Options.
Reasoning
The draft Vision sets out:
"Well-planned growth supported by appropriate infrastructure and avoiding areas of high flood risk will enable the creation of strong, safe and resilient local communities in environments that facilitate healthy and independent living for all.”
This aspect of the Vision will not be achieved in the context of the Council’s Preferred Options omitting a significant number of the borough's KSCs and RSCs from the spatial strategy and do not seek to provide for the additional development required to secure balanced communities. It is not proposed to allocate small housing sites in the plan and concern is expressed that this will delay housing delivery in the early part of the plan period.
The Vision further states:
"Rural communities will embrace appropriate development, in many instances through the preparation of their own neighbourhood plans.”
This would imply a requirement for additional growth, which the preferred options exclude for a significant number of centres. The draft Vision fails to address that it is part of the role of the Local Plan review (and resulting updates) to address strategic priorities deferred as a consequence of the Local Plan 2030 (for example expansion of primary healthcare and secondary education). The Vision also fails to reflect that the proposed development strategy is not looking to provide for any additional growth in rural areas as part of an uplift to meet housing needs in full before 2030. This is a significant shortcoming of the strategy and overlooks suitable and deliverable sites that could be prioritised now to meet these increased needs alongside the delivery of other substantial benefits.
The Vision makes limited reference to specific benefits that the Local Plan 2040 will secure in relation to the natural environment, including Country Parks north of Brickhill and west of Bedford.
The Vision is artificially constrained as a result of the Council’s current position on Preferred Options. There is no reason that other sustainable developments cannot achieve complementary and significant advantages for Green Infrastructure provision.