Issues and Options

Pink – Rail growth

Urban&Civic are now confirmed as the promoters and master developers of Land at Tempsford, shown outlined in red on the attached plan. The site is identified by the Issues and Options Report as having significant potential for growth, as part of the “pink” or “rail growth” option. The site has also been identified by adjacent local planning authorities, as having potential to deliver a substantial new settlement, accelerated by existing and planned strategic infrastructure and the immense economic, social and environmental potential in this highly propitious, central Arc, location. U&C are committed to all that is necessary to plan, design and deliver this opportunity and are uniquely placed to exercise control over substantial landholdings, comprising land owned by the Wynne Family (The Tempsford Estate) and Mrs Codd. Adjoining land is owned by the Executors of the Countess of Erroll (The Erroll Land), who are also promoting the new settlement at Tempsford, and wider development aspirations can be coordinated over time. These comments are submitted in response to the Issues and Options consultation relating to the Bedford Borough Local Plan Review, with Bedford Borough committed to submitting an updated or replacement plan for examination by January 2023.

Strategic Growth The Bedford Local Plan 2030 Inspector’s Report and consequential inclusion of Policy 1 (Reviewing the Local Plan 2030), commits the Council to commencing a Local Plan review no later than 1 year after the adoption of the plan. Policy 1 commits the Council to: “…The plan review will secure levels of growth that accord with government policy and any growth deals that have been agreed. The planning and delivery of strategic growth will be aligned with the delivery of planned infrastructure schemes including the A421 expressway, Black Cat junction, East West Rail link and potentially the A1 realignment. The review will also serve to build stronger working relationships with adjoining and nearby authorities and may result in the preparation of a joint strategic plan based on a wider geography.”