Issues and Options

New dedicated walking and cycling infrastructure as well as more frequent and extended rural bus services.

Pending changes to Building Regulations (as set in the Future Homes Standard Consultation -2019) will significantly improve the energy efficiency requirements of new homes from 2020 (via an interim standard) and 2025 (via a full standard). Reflecting these pending changes, which represent a significant step towards net zero homes, it is considered unnecessary and unviable for the Local Plan Review to go beyond national standards.

Enhanced public transport provision as well as improved walking and cycling infrastructure is considered key to supporting the delivery of future residential development. Enhancement, particularly in rural areas will help facilitate growth in all parts the Borough, not just the urban area which currently benefits from reasonable levels of infrastructure and existing services.

Grey– Dispersed growth

Catesby Estates support more dispersed development throughout the borough, including the expansion of villages, as the principle growth strategy for allocating future development. This strategy would reflect the requirements of the NPPF (in particular Paragraph 78) which states that planning policies should identify opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services. It is therefore essential that the spatial strategy established for the Local Plan Review explores the full growth potential of the rural villages. The benefit of this growth strategy is that facilities and services (such as local bus services, retail and schools) and the overall sustainability of these settlements will be maintained and enhanced. Catesby Estates consider that a strategy focused primarily on new settlements would not be justified on account of the potential delays to housing delivery. For example the previously proposed Colworth New Settlement is constrained, particularly in terms of the multiple land ownerships required to provide access to the site and the A6. The previous desire for an operational parkway station before the first dwelling is occupied is also likely to significantly lengthen delivery timescales for the site. Other new settlement proposals are also likely to have similar infrastructure, delivery and viability challenges meaning they are unlikely to deliver new housing particularly quickly. In contrast, the Borough benefits from existing sustainable rural centres with operating services and facilities which are capable of delivering new housing much faster. A greater proportion of future housing growth should therefore be directed to the rural centres. In summary, more dispersed development throughout the borough, including the expansion of villages is considered the most appropriate strategy to ensure the needs of the Borough are sustainably met over the plan period.

I do not agree with this plan period

2045 is considered to be the appropriate end period for the Local Plan Review. A plan period to 2040 would only represent an additional 10 years beyond the current adopted Local Plan period to 2030. This would be well below the minimum 15 year period required by the NPPF. The Local Plan 2030 Inspectors Report identified the need for the Local Plan Review to respond appropriately to longer term requirements, in particular Arc growth ambitions. A plan period to 2045 is therefore considered fully justified.