Comment

Plan for submission evidence base

Representation ID: 9956

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Barton Willmore

Representation Summary:

In summary, whilst support is provided for the overall strategy of directing growth to accessible locations, we consider that in order to be considered ‘sound’, the housing trajectory for a greater proportion of housing should be directed to urban areas other than Bedford, such as our Site at Rushden Road. The North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy 2011-31 (adopted July 2016) recognises Rushden as a Growth Town (the highest tier of settlements) and defines its ‘spatial role’ as “to provide the focus for major co-ordinated regeneration and growth in employment, housing, retail and higher order facilities serving one or more districts”. Furthermore, the East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 identifies Rushden as a growth town, which will provide the majority of new housing and employment development during the plan period, through a new sustainable urban extension. This is considered to demonstrate the suitability of Rushden as a location for new development.
Several additional changes are proposed to the BBLP2040, based on the Local Plan tests of soundness (NPPF, Paragraph 35) and we respectfully request that these are considered going forwards.