Object

Representation ID: 8572

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Nick Chapman

Agent: Barton Willmore

The general strategy running through all four development options is noted in terms of the need to distribute growth towards sustainable locations such as urban centres, railway stations, the A421 transport corridor and sustainable settlements.

Urban Centre and Edge
A total of 3,000 homes are proposed within and adjoining Bedford Town Centre with 1,500 homes
specifically targeted in the urban area alone. Pursuing this level of growth will require careful selection of sites to protect the town’s character and avoid excessive densities and heights. To achieve this the Council will need to consider not only making best use of previously developed land but identifying sustainable, undeveloped sites within or adjoining the urban area that can integrate well with existing communities. Such sites will also need to be supported by new community facilities and services to meet the demands of new residents and ensure existing infrastructure is not overburden.
Such a proposal has been put forward by Bedfordia Property in the previous Call for Sites (Site 884) consultation and includes development of a community centre with accompanying residential development to help cross fund the centre. Land opportunity within Kempston for community uses is limited and demand for such facilities is expected to grow with an increasing population. Allocating mixed use development on this Site would follow the NPPF (paragraph 92) objective of planning positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments taking into account local strategies to improve health, social and cultural well-being for all sections of the community.
The submitted site at Cemetery Road, Kempston provides a suitable location for this complementary provision, along with supporting residential development, which should not be held back by artificial constraints, such as the historic Urban Open Space policy. This is not to say that the aims and objectives of such designations should be ignored, especially where there is scope to accommodate some open space within the site, which can be enhanced, along with the retention of key views, enhancement of biodiversity and protection of designated heritage assets. We believe the submitted site at Kempston has scope to achieve these objectives whilst making an important contribution to the urban growth agenda set out in the draft Local Plan.