3.8

Support

Representation ID: 6216

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: Peter Coles

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 6246

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: IM Land

Agent: Barton Willmore

Level of Employment Growth Required
Paragraph 81 of the NPPF sets out that:
“Planning policies and decisions should help create the conditions in which businesses can invest, expand and adapt. Significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity, taking into account both local business needs and wider opportunities for development. The approach taken should allow each area to build on its strengths, counter any weaknesses and address the challenges of the future. This is particularly important where Britain can be a global leader in driving innovation, and in areas with high levels of productivity, which should be able to capitalise on their performance and potential”.
The “Creating a vision of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc” consultation document (July 2021) recognises that the Oxford-Cambridge Arc is already home to a booming and varied economy that contributes to national prosperity, however, this centres around Oxford, Cambridge and Milton Keynes, and has not been spread evenly across these centres or in other towns and rural areas. To overcome this, the document sets out an ambition “to use the Spatial Framework to help tackle these problems. We want to make the most of the economic potential of the Arc by planning for sustainable growth and making the Arc an even more attractive place for all to live, work and do business”. They commit to developing an Economic Strategy, setting policies to make sure growth is felt by all communities and the Arc becomes a better place to live and work for all, setting policies which help local planning authorities to plan for new business and employment space, and setting policies to meet the needs of different sectors and businesses.
Paragraph 6.6 of the Strategy Options and Draft Policies consultation document sets out that “the Council have considered planned population growth up to 2040 and therefore consider that there is a requirement of 171 hectares of new employment land within this period. The Employment Land Study (June 2021) sets out that this is likely to be made up of 66 ha for office development (80 ha to 2045), 52 ha for industrial development (62 ha to 2045) and 53 ha for warehouse development (60 ha to 2045).
There is currently 48 hectares of available employment land within the Borough, which is split between four sites (A6 near Souldrop, Land west of B530, Bedford River Valley Park and Medbury Farm), varying in size from 1 to 31 hectares). This leaves a requirement of 123 hectares to be allocated in the BBLP 2050. 60 hectares of this is requirement for the remaining two business parks required to meet qualitative need (Medbury Farm is already allocated), leaving 63 hectares to be allocated up to 2040 (94 ha to 2045) for further general employment uses split between offices, industry and warehousing. It is concerning that 108 hectares of employment land, to be provided up to 2040, will be provided on only 6 sites within the Borough. The Council consider that the 63 hectares requirement to 2040 (94 ha to 2045) should be allocated in smaller sites which are more likely to be attractive for office and general industry purposes rather than large-scale warehousing. This responds to the need for high quality office and industrial units, however, does not provide flexibility over the plan period in terms of location and size of size that might be required in the longer term.
Paragraph 5.21 of the Employment Land Study states that “Bedford should take advantage of its good and improving accessibility to a wider market area to expand its attractiveness and influence. Growth should seek to maximise the strengths of the local economy and define a unique role that builds on local skills and expertise to minimise future loss of labour and to continue to attract businesses in key sectors”. The Council need to ensure that their minimum requirement for employment land fully responds to this aspiration, as well as the aspirations of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
The Council are also undertaking further site selection work, which should select adequate sites to exceed the minimum requirement for employment land up to 2040, but also ensure that there is adequate land and choice in terms of location and size, to ensure that any change in requirement can be accommodated within the Borough, and to encourage businesses to stay and to newly locate within the Borough where possible. This is important if the Council wish to achieve their objectives relating to prosperity in the Borough.

Object

Representation ID: 6317

Received: 10/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Paul Zwetsloot

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 6445

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Ms Donna Thompson

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6464

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Steven Kent

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6544

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Susan Trolley

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 6547

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Bedfordia Developments Ltd and Bedfordshire Charitable Trust Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Limited

Paragraph 3.8 (Level of Employment Growth) – Comment
2.9 The Council’s conclusions in the Employment Land Topic Paper to take account of the limited opportunities for high density office development and the majority of demand from within lower density business parks are generally supported.
2.10 It is recognised that the Council’s requirement for a minimum additional allocation of 123ha employment land represents an ambitious target and takes account of relatively limited existing supply. However, the approach to identify the overall land required cannot be considered sound without undertaking more detailed analysis of the potential jobs growth and floorspace needs associated with testing a wider range of jobs forecasts.

Object

Representation ID: 6603

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Aiden Farmer

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6725

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Elizabeth Froude

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6763

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Ms S Kelly

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6815

Received: 15/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Damian Smith

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 6863

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Joanna Ibbett

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis I believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6902

Received: 15/09/2021

Respondent: Master Corey T Farmer

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 6994

Received: 16/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Robert Tusting

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 7034

Received: 17/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Robert Tusting

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 7083

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: June Coles

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 7130

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: Stephen Coles

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Support

Representation ID: 7210

Received: 17/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Peter Knight

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7295

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Laura Jones

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7454

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Phillip C Bath Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Limited

The Council’s conclusions in the Employment Land Topic Paper to take account of the limited opportunities for high density office development and the majority of demand from within lower density business parks are generally supported.
It is recognised that the Council’s requirement for a minimum additional allocation of 123ha employment land represents an ambitious target and takes account of relatively limited existing supply. However, the approach to identify the overall land required cannot be considered sound without undertaking more detailed analysis of the potential jobs growth and floorspace needs associated with testing a wider range of jobs forecasts.

Object

Representation ID: 7509

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Jonathan Hambleton

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis I believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area. The Post-pandemic reassessment of working patterns and employment growth areas needs to be factored in to this and the BBC strategy is outdated on this.

Rural Bedfordshire has employment within the farming/food production areas is important too!

Support

Representation ID: 7548

Received: 21/09/2021

Respondent: Luton Borough Council

In relation to the level of employment growth and land, Luton Council notes that the consultation document identifies that taking account of planned population growth to 2040 and the currently available supply of land, the employment land to be allocated in the Local Plan for Bedford Borough is 123 hectares. As with housing need, Luton would be unable to provide additional employment land to support Bedford’s needs due to Luton’s own constraints.
Bedford and Luton Councils are within the Oxford to Cambridgeshire Arc and as such will need to continue to collaborate to maximise the areas potential within the Arc.

Object

Representation ID: 7614

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Nicola Tagg

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7661

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Simon Goodship

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7759

Received: 22/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Michael Thompson

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7818

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Emilio Meola

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7857

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Mark Ibbett

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis I believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 7963

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Ms Lorraine Jewell

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis I believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area. The Post-pandemic reassessment of working patterns and employment growth areas needs to be factored in to this and the BBC strategy is outdated on this.

Rural Bedfordshire has employment within the farming/food production areas is important too!

Object

Representation ID: 8020

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Larry Gooch

Employment growth should be centred around the transport corridors and where there are sustainable modes of public transport and other sustainable choices such as walking or cycling. On this basis we believe that this should be provided adjacent to Bedford / Kempston urban area.

Object

Representation ID: 8043

Received: 23/09/2021

Respondent: Terry & Maureen Wright

Agent: Bidwells

Chapter 3 of the consultation document identifies that given the predicted population growth to 2040, 171 hectares of new employment land will be required. There is currently a shortfall of 123 hectares of land to be allocated within the Local Plan, due to the available supply in the District currently standing at 48 hectares.
2.2 The Local Plan should proactively seek to provide a buffer in the level of employment land to be required in order to allow a choice in the market and a differential in suitable sites to allow for the different requirements by the market. In this regard, although Chapter 3 stipulates that there is currently a shortfall of 123 hectares of land, the Council should look to allocate additional land to provide this buffer and to meet the wider requirements of different industries. For example, a buffer of 10% should be applied and therefore the plan should be looking to allocate 135 hectares of employment land to allow for this flexibility.
2.3 As a centrally located local authority in the Oxford to Cambridge Arc, Bedford Borough should ensure that the level of growth that is planned in the authority is in line with wider aspirations for the area, with the employment areas additionally fulfilling the requirements set out in the Arc Vision. It is important that the employment areas that are proposed within the chosen strategy are in close proximity to the strategic road network in order to allow easy access to the research and development hubs that have been constructed in both Oxford and Cambridge.
2.4 The amount of employment land that is to be allocated is affected in part by the following factors: the aspirations of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc should be considered alongside the requirements to provide different types of employment uses including B1 and B8 land uses and cross-boundary growth. These factors reflect the need to further increase the level of employment land to be allocated.
2.5 The inclusion of sites that are close to the boundary with the neighbouring authorities would additionally lead to the residents of these authorities coming into Bedford Borough thus boosting the economic growth of the Local Authority, without increasing the demand for residential dwellings in the authority.
2.6 Therefore, the employment requirement in the Local Plan 2040 needs to plan for flexibility and the broader long-term economic aspirations for growth in the area.