Object
Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission
Representation ID: 9315
Received: 28/07/2022
Respondent: Bedfordia Developments Ltd and Marcol Industrial Investment LLP
Agent: Lichfields
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? No
The Local Plan is not legally complaint owing to failure to comply with the duty to co-operate and fails to meet the tests of soundness. The Council has not co-operated effectively with neighbouring authorities regarding strategic cross-boundary impacts of the proposed new settlement at Little Barford; the supporting evidence (New Settlements Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal) is inconsistent in its approach and does not represent a suitable, fair and objective assessment of the spatial strategy options; and the transport evidence (BBTM) is inconsistent with national policy, with serious concerns over the application of the BBTM results to the site selection process.
The Local Plan is not legally complaint owing to failure to comply with the duty to co-operate and fails to meet the tests of soundness. The Council has not co-operated effectively with neighbouring authorities regarding strategic cross-boundary impacts of the proposed new settlement at Little Barford; the supporting evidence (New Settlements Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal) is inconsistent in its approach and does not represent a suitable, fair and objective assessment of the spatial strategy options; and the transport evidence (BBTM) is inconsistent with national policy, with serious concerns over the application of the BBTM results to the site selection process.