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New searchHuntingdonshire District Council (HDC) agree with the scope of the Local Plan review, additional areas that could be considered are: 1. Further policies supporting wellbeing and social inclusion within new residential developments, existing town centres and urban areas and to the natural environment to create healthy and inclusive communities in response to new allocations. 2. Include digital infrastructure and connectivity opportunities. 3. Within the Strategy, the Borough Council could explore the contribution of rural exception sites to support sustainable growth in areas where large scale growth may not be appropriate to provide sustainable development opportunities to support local communities, services and facilities. This may assist the Borough Council with a balanced approach towards development particularly if strategic expansions, new settlements or growth based around the periphery of major transport infrastructure development and urban centres is pursued.
No major comments, however, one observation. There seems to be a reliance on neighbourhood plan groups to identify sites in rural parts of the Borough, this approach could be bolstered so that sustainable growth that supports local communities, services and facilities is not limited where take up of neighbourhood plans allocating sites is low particularly as neighbourhood planning is not mandatory. However, HDC are supportive of greater inclusion of neighbourhood planning and greater local participation on growth options and sustainable development.
Huntingdonshire District Council agree that 2020 to 2040 is an appropriate plan period given the recent adoption of the current Bedford Local Plan to 2030 and the level of uncertainty over the routing and delivery timeframes of major transport infrastructure projects. It may be appropriate for the next local plan review to consider a longer plan period promoting further large scale strategic sites to reflect these opportunities once frameworks and routes have been finalised and works are underway.
Several potential locations for growth individually or in combination with other options will require discussions with HDC under the duty to cooperate to understand any potential issues and to minimise any negative impacts that may arise from substantial housing and or employment developments and additional travel demand whichever of these options or combination of options are pursued. This is particularly important as the Strategic Expansion Location to the east of St Neots (St Neots East including Wintringham Park) within Huntingdonshire is underway. Potential further strategic development within Bedford Borough which will impact capacity on the A1 and A428 will need to be investigated in combination with proposed transport infrastructure projects and existing commitments and allocations in surrounding local authorities. HDC will be pleased to work with Bedford Borough to explore the potential for developments which would support the greater viability of public transport corridors linking into Huntingdonshire. As well as HDC, other adjoining local authorities will need to be included. Other cross boundary issues that HDC will be pleased to work with Bedford Borough on include the protection, conservation and enhancement of nature designations, particularly in response to any site allocations made for housing, employment, recreation or conservation. Page 16 of the Bedford Borough Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (July 2020) identifies that there are no Natura 2000 (European) protected sites within the Borough, however there are some within 15km of the Borough located within Huntingdonshire District. Additionally, Green Infrastructure Opportunity Zones no. 1 (Milton Keynes to Grafham – wooded wolds) and no.3 (Lower Great Ouse River Valley) identified on page 18 of the Scoping Report border with Huntingdonshire. No.3 adjoins the border with Huntingdonshire’s Great Ouse Valley Green Infrastructure Priority Area designation under LP3 of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036. Other sites which should be considered are the County Wildlife Sites of Tilbrook Bushes and Sandy Lane and Honeyhill Wood near Kimbolton which adjoin the northern border between Bedford Borough and Huntingdonshire.
A key priority is to provide physical infrastructure that supports new developments and in particular new settlements or urban extensions. Opportunities for digital infrastructure to support connectivity and economic growth alongside transport infrastructure should also be prioritised. The identification and delivery of additional physical infrastructure must be balanced with other forms of infrastructure such as social infrastructure and green infrastructure to promote health, wellbeing, social inclusion and conservation opportunities. Detailed assessment of the infrastructure requirements arising from the eventual Development Strategy and the preferred locations of growth within the Local Plan will be essential to demonstrate the quantity, nature and location of infrastructure provision or improvements needed. The updated Local Plan should be accompanied by an infrastructure delivery plan to demonstrate how and when the identified essential infrastructure will be provided to ensure that any new potential developments do not create additional strain on existing infrastructure within Bedford Borough or in surrounding areas.
Huntingdonshire’s boundary with Bedford Borough is in close proximity to three of the Established Employment Areas identified in the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036 (Howard Road Industrial Estate, Little End Road/ Alpha Drive Business Park and Colmworth Business Park). Therefore, in addition to the response to Q4, HDC would like to be consulted on all allocations near to the boundary between Bedford Borough and Huntingdonshire as well as those that may have an impact upon current transport infrastructure and commuting patterns. To best use current transport infrastructure, it is recommended that employment allocations are located in areas well connected to existing public transport or main transport corridors. Employment allocations should be located within a range of locations dependent on the types of employment and need in the area. Major employment opportunities should be located within new settlements to support a sustainable mix of uses and limit long commuting patterns and be located along existing or proposed transport routes to support sustainable communities. Employment allocations should also be identified within established employment areas or town centres across the Borough to support their economic vitality and diversity. Finally, some provision should be made to support, enhance and diversify where necessary the rural economy across Bedford.
No comment.
No further views.
The Borough Council should seek to undertake appropriate assessments and studies on climate change guidance as part of the Local Plan evidence base to support any future requirements set out within policies.
No comment.
