Site ID: 683

Support

Representation ID: 6077

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: Mr J Wright

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

Our client controls the Land West of Heddings Farm, Wyboston, which is being promoted through the Call For Sites Process, Site ID 663. This site is available for up to 45 dwellings.

The site can be found within preferred strategy Option 2d, as Wyboston forms part of the eastern parishes of the Borough. Wyboston has excellent connectivity to the A421 Growth Corridor, which is expected to see large levels of growth over the coming years.

The site is within walking distance of a village hall, convenience store and subway sandwich shop, and McDonalds Restaurant, as well as numerous employment opportunities in the locality. There is a bus stop accessible by foot that connects the site to Biggleswade, Sandy, and St Neots. St Neots can be easily accessed from the site at a longer walking / short cycling distance, and provides a range of services, employment opportunities, and transport links. The site is also within walking distance of the X5 bus stop on the A1 which has a high frequency service travelling to Oxford, Bicester, Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots, and Cambridge from early in the morning until late at night, 7 days per week.

The site is therefore in a reasonably sustainable rural location, and development of this site will contribute towards the long-term vitality of the settlement and viability of these services.

The proposed relief road that is being created as part of the works to the Black Cat interchange, will further enhance transport connectivity and capacity within the network. The direct accesses to the A1 from The Lane, and Chawston lane will be closed, with all traffic accessing the interchange via the Roxton Road to the south. This wider enhancement further strengthens the case for considering growth within the Parish.

In terms of housing sites, it is well recognised that villages and rural settlements such as this make for attractive locations for self-build plots. Table 12 of the Housing Strategy 2021-2026 shows that there are currently 45 registrants who have registered a preference for Self-Build housing in Wyboston and the surrounding areas. The site is being promoted for normal housing and self-build through the Call For Sites process and provides an opportunity to provide self-build plots in a location where they are required.

Support

Representation ID: 8860

Received: 29/09/2021

Respondent: Woodland Manor Hotel

Agent: Phillips Planning Services

Our client controls the Land at Woodlands Manor, Clapham which is being promoted through the Call For Sites Process, Site ID 683. This site is available for up to 4 dwellings. A planning application was progressed in 2019 and demonstrated there was no technical barrier to the sites delivery, planning permission was only withheld on the basis that the site was outside the settlement envelope and the Local Plan housing policies were deemed up to date. The site has therefore been assessed as deliverable.

Clapham, is a highly sustainable settlement and is recognised in the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030 as a Key Service Centre. Within the village are a number of services accessible by foot including a primary school, medical centre, a supermarket, a post office, a church, several restaurants and takeaways, and two pubs, as well as multiple employment opportunities. In addition to this there are several bus stops that offer services into Bedford. The site is therefore in a very sustainable rural location, and new development will contribute towards the long-term vitality of the settlement and viability of these services.

Being a smaller development, the site can be delivered quickly and therefore can make an early contribution to housing delivery in the borough. Furthermore, it is well recognised that villages and rural settlements such as this make for attractive locations for self-build plots. This in turn encourages self-build housing targets for the area to be met.

It is well recognised that villages and rural settlements such as this make for attractive locations for self-build plots. Table 12 of the Housing Strategy 2021-2026 shows that there are currently 15 registrants who have registered a preference for Self-Build housing in Clapham. This site is also being promoted for self-build through the Call for Sites process and provides an opportunity to deliver self-build plots in a location where they are required.