Object
Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission
Representation ID: 9100
Received: 13/07/2022
Respondent: Miss Lynda Gurney
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? No
This massive business park development would be harmful to the character of the village, is inappropriate to the rural location, would be imposing to nearby housing, would dominate the rural landscape and is out of keeping in a village location. It appears to be out of scale and they are clearly disproportionate to the size of the Parish.
It would cause significant traffic congestion, is not a sustainable site, would result in the loss of BMV agricultural land, have a significant impact on wildlife and would result in unacceptable noise pollution.
I object to this proposal for a number of reasons:
1) The addition of a large business park at Water End Renhold would be totally alien and harmful to the character of the village.
2) The proposed development is inappropriate in the rural context and would be imposing on the nearby houses.
3) This is a rural location and these allocated sites would dominate the rural landscape and would be out of keeping. The visual impact on the local setting would be devistating.
4) There is already significant congestion at the A421 junction all day and the allocation of these sites would add to this. Traffic volumes and the village road network are not suitable for vehicles assessing these sites and they would need significant remodelling.
5) The government has recognised that the Oxford to Arc is no longer necessary and with the changing working habits is the additional formal workspace really required when there are so many vacant office and employment sites in the borough.
6) The sites are not considered sustainable locations as they are not accessible by alternative modes of transport such as walking, cycling and public transport.
7) The site is made up of Grade 2 agricultural land, which is considered to be Best and Most Versatile (BMV) and according to national policy, should be protected from significant, inappropriate or unsustainable development proposals.
8) The impact on wildlife would be significant with the loss of habitat as the land is part of the rural countryside.
9) Water and Green End Renhold are predominantly linear with low-density built form, primarily housing. Having an massive business park, totally urban in character, would be out of keeping with a rural village. It would be impossible to retain a rural character with substantial buildings and employment units being imposed on the village. The proposals appear to be out of scale and are clearly disproportionate to the size of the Parish.
10) The sites are near to a number of residential properties so the development of these sites would lead to unacceptable noise pollution and disturbance