Object

Representation ID: 8657

Received: 28/09/2021

Respondent: Mr and Mrs N/A Box

Agent: DLP Planning Limited

3.45 Whilst our client’s first preference would be for a more dispersed approach to growth across the borough to ensure that sustainable development occurs in all settlements (i.e. Grey option in 2020 Issues and Options consultation), of the spatial strategy options the Council has indicated as ‘preferred’ the most appropriate in our client’s case is Option 2d): (Development in and around the urban area, plus A421 transport corridor with rail based growth parishes, southern parishes and east parishes, plus one new settlement.)
3.46 However we cannot support this option as it erroneously omits Renhold/Salph End Parish as on of the ‘eastern parishes’. There is no clear evidence to support which Parishes have been selected as either ‘southern’, ‘eastern’ or ‘rail-based’ parishes. If parishes are to be identified in this way, there should be a clear and justified rationale for inclusion/exclusion.
3.47 The Parish of Renhold/Salph End should be included within Option 2d) as it offers a sustainable location for growth that is both edge of Bedford Urban Area and within easy reach of the A421. This is evident from the Council’s own Settlement Hierarchy Study (September 2018) which confirmed that when combined as Renhold incl. Salph, Green and Church End Parish, it scores as the 11th most sustainable settlement in the Borough (Table 2, Iteration 2) equal with Stewartby Parish (a parish taking a significant amount of growth). In the assessment Renhold incl. Salph, Green and Church End Parish scores higher than the settlements of Kempston Rural (=22nd), Cardington (=24th), Cople (21st), Little Barford (=62nd), Roxton (=18th), Willington (14th), Wyboston (20th) and Wixams (17th), yet falls to be categorised as a ‘Group 3’ settlement in the hierarchy, whereas many of those listed above fall into Group 2. This is a clear inconsistency and must be readdressed in the update to the Setttlement Hiearchy Study the Council is intending to undertake.
3.48 The evidence shows that Renhold incl Salph End is a sustainable location for growth. Given its proximity to both the Bedford Urban Area and A421 it should be identified within Option 2d).