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3.1 O&H consider the Authority should be more ambitious and seek to draft a plan with a plan period from 2020 – 2050. 3.2 The Authority should consider more than the quantum of housing that would be required when determining the length of the Plan period. Rather, the Authority should be ambitious and seek to a be leader for long-term strategy within the O2C Arc. 3.3 The Government’s ambitions for the O2C Arc along with the Government’s commitment to achieving "net zero" greenhouse gases run until 2050. There would be merit in aligning the Authority’s strategy for the development of the Borough with Government’s ambition for the O2C Arc and commitment to net zero. 3.4 A plan period of 2020 – 2040 would fail to capture the benefits of aligning the plan period with the ambition for the wider O2C Arc and the Government’s environment commitments. 3.5 This Local Plan review present an opportunity for the Authority to offer a greater degree of certainty to developers and local communities than any other Authority within the O2C Arc. It also offers the opportunity to secure the infrastructure necessary for future needs long before it may be required.
3.1 O&H consider the Authority should be more ambitious and seek to draft a plan with a plan period from 2020 – 2050. 3.2 The Authority should consider more than the quantum of housing that would be required when determining the length of the Plan period. Rather, the Authority should be ambitious and seek to a be leader for long-term strategy within the O2C Arc. 3.3 The Government’s ambitions for the O2C Arc along with the Government’s commitment to achieving "net zero" greenhouse gases run until 2050. There would be merit in aligning the Authority’s strategy for the development of the Borough with Government’s ambition for the O2C Arc and commitment to net zero. 3.4 A plan period of 2020 – 2040 would fail to capture the benefits of aligning the plan period with the ambition for the wider O2C Arc and the Government’s environment commitments. 3.5 This Local Plan review present an opportunity for the Authority to offer a greater degree of certainty to developers and local communities than any other Authority within the O2C Arc. It also offers the opportunity to secure the infrastructure necessary for future needs long before it may be required.
5.1 O&H consider East-West Rail is crucial for the delivery of growth in Bedford Borough and encourage the Authority to do all that is possible to play an active role in supporting this project. 5.2 East-West Rail plays a fundamental role in connecting the O2C Arc, which Bedford Borough is at the heart of. Without the development of this infrastructure the full potential of the O2C Arc will not be realised which reduces the contribution of this to the future delivery of growth in Bedford Borough. 5.3 O&H is of the view the existing rail network, including local stopping stations at Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick, will continue to play a valuable role in supporting the delivery of growth in Bedford and will play an important role in complementing East-West Rail once operational. 5.4 The existing rail network should not be forgotten. O&H consider it crucial that the Council continue to support the existing local stations by allocating sufficient future development within close proximity of these local stations to ensure their long-term viability. 5.5 More locally, O&H consider the Bedford to to Milton Keynes Waterway Park (BMK Waterway) a key piece of infrastructure to the delivery of growth in Bedford Borough. 5.6 Unlike more traditional infrastructure projects such as new roads where the benefits to growth are better established, the BMK Waterway presents a unique infrastructure opportunity to support the delivery of growth in Bedford Borough. 5.7 The BMK Waterway will serve as a sustainable means of travel as well as a leisure attraction which will bring both indirect and direct benefits to the delivery of growth in Bedford borough. 5.8 The opportunity to deliver the BMK Waterway is a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity, integral to the Marston Vale, which O&H consider should not be missed. 5.9 The current Covid-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of digital infrastructure and it is crucial that the Council properly consider the delivery of this infrastructure if it is to not only ensure but also safeguard the future delivery of growth in Bedford Borough.
6.1 O&H consider that any new employment sites in the Borough need to be located close to areas of housing growth as well as close to existing infrastructure and/or committed new infrastructure. 6.2 Taking this approach, the most appropriate place to locate new employment sites in the Borough is the Marston Vale and Kempston area where there is already a spine of existing infrastructure along with a range of commitments for new infrastructure and housing growth. 6.3 Furthermore, the Authority have allocated £14 million of capital funding for construction of the proposed Wixams Parkway Station and plan to recoup the costs from non-fare rail revenues (parking charges, rent from retail concessions etc.). The targeted opening date for the station is late 2023. To make best use of this investment O&H consider it crucial to plan for employment and residential development within close proximity and ensure patronage is of a level that, in the first instance, further justifies the business case for this new station and then sustains the long-term future of this new service once operational. 6.4 In short, allocating more employment sites in the Marston Vale and Kempston area would contribute to achieving the vision for the Wixams Parkway Station proposed station. 6.5 More specifically, O&H responded to the Authority’s ‘Call for Sites’ consultation on 14 August 2020 to put forward five sites that are completely within O&H’s ownership which could be developed during the emerging Plan period. Of the five sites, ‘CP Farm’ and ‘Land East of the Junction of Green Lane and Bedford Road’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘Green Lane’) offers the opportunity for a range of employment / commercial uses (Use Classes B1, B2 and B8). 6.5.1 CP Farm has the potential for circa 1 million sq ft of general employment land. It is located immediately to the south of the Marsh Leys Industrial Area and close to Wootton where there is considerable housing and commercial development already underway. 6.6 Green Lane comprises a parcel of land east of the Junction of Green Lane and Bedford Road, located approximately 1 mile east of Stewartby. Existing employment development is situated immediately to the east (GRT Builders Ltd) and west (Copart UK Limited - Head Office) of Green Lane with the now downgraded C94 road immediately adjacent to the north. Green Lane also benefits from a location in close proximity to the allocated and approved employment site, Marston Vale Innovation Park. 6.7 Development of Green Lane would represent minor infilling and contribute to achieving a comprehensive semi-rural linear employment offer adjacent to the C94 in this location.
7.1 O&H’s comments in relation to Question 4 are appropriate here also.
8.1 O&H have no comment.
9.1 O&H is of the view that it would be beneficial for the Council to produce further guidance for developers on how to respond to climate change. 9.2 O&H consider that the Council could be more ambitious and go beyond what other authorities have done previously by seeking to deliver a series of physical developments which incorporate innovations and the highest standards of sustainability as showpieces to accompany any future guidance document for developers. 9.3 O&H responded to the Authority’s ‘Call for Sites’ consultation on 14 August 2020 to put forward five sites that are completely within O&H’s ownership which could be developed during the emerging Plan period. Of the five sites, Randalls Farm is proposed for development as a Model Village’, the function of which will be to demonstrate, and test innovative and low carbon technologies as well provide a knowledge exchange and educational hub. 9.4 The purpose of the site is to contribute towards a step-change in construction quality and innovation in the Vale as well as support small rural start-up businesses and local knowledge exchange. A key component of this opportunity site would be the delivery of circa 24 demonstrator homes (a conservative assumption). 9.5 The Council could capitalise on this opportunity and some of the demonstrator homes could be used as physical use examples of the guidance / benchmark the Council are seeking to achieve with regards to responding to climate change.
10.1 O&H have no comment in relation to local evidence. 10.2 However, as noted in response to Q9, O&H are promoting the Randalls Farm site as a Model Village’, the function of which will be to demonstrate, and test innovative and low carbon technologies as well provide a knowledge exchange and educational hub. 10.3 A key component of the Randalls Farm opportunity would be the delivery of circa 24 demonstrator homes (a conservative assumption). 10.4 O&H is of the view that Randalls Farm could act as a testbed for innovation and a chance for members and planning officers to locally test going beyond national building regulation standards. 10.5 O&H welcome any opportunity to discuss their vision for Randalls Farm further and how this vision could align with the Council’s approach to future building regulation standards.
11.1 O&H consider convenience as one of the driving factors to encourage people to make greater use of sustainable modes of transport. 11.2 To achieve this, new development needs to be located near sustainable modes of transport i.e. close to railway stations such as Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick. 11.3 O&H consider the existing rail network in the Borough including local stopping stations at Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick will play a valuable complementing role to East-West Rail once it is complete. 11.4 The Council needs to locate future development in the initial years of the emerging Plan period around these local stopping stations until East-Rail is complete and operational. This approach will ensure local residents make the best use of the existing sustainable modes of transport until the wider network is operational. 11.5 O&H responded to the Authority’s ‘Call for Sites’ consultation on 14 August 2020 to put forward five sites that are completely within O&H’s ownership which could be developed during the emerging Plan period. 11.6 Of the sites promoted by O&H, Broadmead Farm, CP Farm and Land at Kempston Hardwick are all well situated to take advantage of the existing rail network in the Borough and create an environment which encourages local residents to make greater use of sustainable modes of transport.
