Comment

Representation ID: 9947

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Barton Willmore

Draft Policy DS5 (Distribution of Growth) sets out where housing and employment growth will be located, which is as follows:
[table from policy DS5(S) inserted]
As set out in further detail above, it is considered that in order to be ‘sound’, further housing growth should be directed to already accessible locations in urban areas other than Bedford, in order to ensure the needs of the Borough are met.
Paragraph 69 of the NPPF states that medium sized sites such as Land at Rushden Road can make an important contribution to meeting the housing requirement of an area, as they are often built out relatively quickly. The Site at Rushden Road would not rely upon the delivery of any major infrastructure in order to be considered a sustainable / suitable location for new development. The Site therefore provides the Council with the opportunity to deliver growth in accordance with the needs of Bedford relatively early on in the Plan period.