Support

Representation ID: 8487

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

In accordance with Section 19 of the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, policies set out in Local Plans must be subject to Sustainability Appraisal (SA). Incorporating the requirements  of  the  Environmental  Assessment  of  Plans  and  Programmes  Regulations  2004, SA is a systematic process that should be undertaken at each stage of the Plan’s preparation, assessing the effects of the Local Plan’s proposals on sustainable development when judged against reasonable alternatives.
Gladman note that the Draft Plan consultation is accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal dated June 2021. Bedford Borough Council (BBC) should ensure that the results of the SA process clearly justify its policy choices. In meeting the development needs of the area, it should  be  clear  from  the  results  of  the  assessment  why  some  policy  options  have  been  progressed, and others have been rejected. Undertaking a comparative and equal assessment  of  each  reasonable  alternative,  the  Borough  Plan  Review’s  decision‐making  and scoring should be robust, justified and transparent.
It is noted from the Draft Sustainability Appraisal  Report (July 2021), that more detailed  location options for growth will be considered in the final Sustainability Appraisal Report which will be prepared as the local plan is finalised. Through the sustainability appraisal process, careful consideration should be given to the ability of sites of varying size, location and  nature  to  contribute  towards  sustainably  meeting  future  housing  needs  in  full.   The  wider strategic context of the area as a location for economic growth and change must also be  a  key  factor  in  identifying  a  sustainable  growth  strategy  for  the  borough  through  to  2040.