Object

Representation ID: 8495

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

Growth and Spatial Options
A combined approach is needed in order to sustainably meet the challenge of delivering against identified development needs over the plan period to 2040. To meet housing need and capture the socio‐economic benefits of the infrastructure associated with the Oxford‐Cambridge Arc throughout the period to 2040 and beyond, proportionate levels of growth should  be  directed  across  the  settlement  hierarchy.  This  will  complement  growth  from  sustainable urban extensions and new settlements, ensure choice and competition in the market and those communities to improve their levels of sustainability. It will therefore be necessary for the housing requirements of neighbourhood areas to be revisited and/or for the Council to allocate land in these locations through the Local Plan Review. An approach that takes a pro‐active approach towards enabling development in sustainable locations is required, which will include a combination of strategic scale sites and growth adjacent to existing  settlements.   Gladman  are  promoting  land  in  locations  including,  Renhold, Shortstown, Willington and Wootton, all of which are well related to the existing built form and  the  A421  corridor  and  can  be  delivered  as  part  of  a  sustainable  and  comprehensive  strategy for growth across the borough to 2040.
The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) highlights that “A wide range of settlements can play a  role  in  delivering  sustainable  development  in  rural  areas,  so  blanket  policies  restricting  housing development in some types of settlement will need to be supported by robust evidence of their appropriateness6.” All settlements within the borough boundary have the potential to contribute further towards the overall development requirement and there is a need to plan to ensure that services can be maintained and enhanced in these locations to meet the day to day needs of residents. A study of the sustainability credentials of settlements across the  hierarchy  should  therefore  be  undertaken  to  fully  explore  the  potential  of  these  settlements to accommodate appropriate levels of growth, factoring in demographic information over the duration of the plan period and the availability of day‐to‐day services and  facilities.   Indeed,  the  NPPF  2019  sets  out  that  planning  policies  should  identify  opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services7.   Furthermore,  the  retention  and  development  of  accessible  local  services  and  community facilities should be enabled by planning policies and decisions8.
The spatial strategy, SA and site assessment scoring criteria must also fully recognise the sustainability benefits of village development and in doing so reflect the changing habits of people  over  the  plan  period  including  the  increased  role  of  working  from  home  and  the  associated need for social and community infrastructure improvements in settlements across the hierarchy.
It is important that the local plan enables the delivery of a wide range of sites in order to support the delivery of housing at the levels that are required by the Standard Method. The approach should embrace the need to support sites of all sizes. It is important not to overly rely on large scale strategic locations for growth; by enabling the widest range of sites across settlements throughout the hierarchy, Bedford will maximise delivery and satisfy housing need in the borough.
As the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) highlights, “A wide range of settlements can play a role in delivering sustainable development in rural areas, so blanket policies restricting housing development in some types of settlement will need to be supported by robust evidence of their appropriateness”9.
Whilst  the  Draft  Plan  explains  correctly  that  work  on  the  Local  Plan  2040  should  not  be  delayed in anticipation of the progression of the Oxford Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework, the plan making process represents an opportunity to fully explore a range of growth and spatial strategy options that will have the ability to support economic growth in a manner that aligns with the wider ambitions of the Oxford Cambridge Arc.