Comment

Representation ID: 9636

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Arnold White Estates Ltd

Agent: Arrow Planning Limited

These representations have been prepared on behalf of Arnold White Group (‘AWG’) in
response to the public consultation on Bedford Borough Council’s (‘BBC’) Local Plan
2040 Plan for Submission April 2022 Consultation (‘the Local Plan’).
1.2 AWG are a landowner and strategic land promoter, owning and controlling significant
areas of land within Bedford Borough. AWG are owners of 96ha of land at Broadmead,
Marston Vale, north of Stewartby and c.12ha area of land known as Elms Farm,
Kempston Hardwick. A significant part of the site has been optioned to Cloud Wing
under an agreement that expires in December 2023. This response has been prepared
and submitted on behalf of AWG in respect of both areas of land, as landowner.
1.3 The Broadmead land is part of the wider 222ha ‘Bedford Business Park’ being promoted
by Cloud Wing UK Ltd (‘Cloud Wing’) and a separate set of representations have been
submitted by Cloud Wing, with AWG approval, in respect of that land. Reference is
made to those representations throughout this document.
1.4 A Site Location Plan identifying the Elms Farm site (hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’) is
enclosed at Appendix 1.
1.5 AWG has been active participants in every stage of the Local Plan 2030, as well as the
previous stages of consultation on the Local Plan 2040.
1.6 AWG support the proposed allocation HOU14. However, for the reasons set out in these
representations, AWG consider that the Local Plan as drafted is not sound as the
approach taken to this allocation is not an appropriate strategy having regard to
available land, nor is it consistent with national policy as it does not fully enable the
delivery of sustainable development. The Local Plan can be made sound through the
following modifications:
• An assessment of land at and surrounding HOU14 based on recognisable
boundaries (i.e. roads), rather than an arbitrary line drawn in the middle of a
field;
• The resulting inclusion of the Elms Farm Site as land allocated for residential
development as part of the wider HOU14 allocation;
• Strengthening of the Plan regarding climate change, with a Policy that
promotes the development of renewable energy, in particular wind and solar,
to help tackle the climate emergency and energy security.
1.7 This response also includes further information in relation to the Elms Farm site,
providing justification as to why it should be allocated within HOU14 in accordance with
national policy in order to make the Local Plan sound.