Plan for submission evidence base

Object

Representation ID: 10366

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Renhold Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

SOUTH OF BEDFORD TOPIC PAPER
SECTION 8: OTHER ASSOCIATED PLANNING POLICIES
With the limited resources, the Parish Council have, where able, there has been a review of some of the subsidiary planning policy documents. It is important to reiterate that with limited technical skills and expertise in the many areas covered by these documents it is possible that there are more concerns which have not yet been identified.

For now, in summary please see below comments on some of these policy documents.

Policy Document 10 – South of Bedford Area Topic Paper
The main draft Local Plan consultation document makes several references to the new planning policy relating to the South of Bedford Area. Reference document 10 has been produced to sit alongside the main plan. Whilst Renhold geographical position means it is not within the Marston Vale which is the criteria for this new policy area. The Parish Council would like to make the following observation on the document and in particular to a map, which again evidences the confusing and misleading information presented on proposed site locations.
SEE ATTACHMENT

The Figure 5 Diagram, known as South of Bedford area on Page 55 in the consultation sets out the identified strategic area, with the subsidiary document then setting out more in-depth policy aspirations. The presented map includes a reference to Water End, as illustrated by the red arrow(s) and line, above which in fact show Water End in the nearby parish of Cople. This is a further example of misleading information being presented which leads to confusion for stakeholders.

Object

Representation ID: 10367

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Renhold Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

This subsidiary planning policy document includes a simple question and answer assessment for each of the sites under consideration to indicate their compatibility with Bedford Borough Council policies. In regards to Policy EM6 which are references as Sites 761 and 764 detailed on Pages 462, 463, 466 and 467 the Parish Council would like to draw attention to some of the responses.

Question 1. a) relating to Site 761 has a question mark over the reply that the site ‘Within or adjoining UAB SPA or built form of a small settlement’. The Parish Council have identified clear evidence that that it is not within the boundaries of any Settlement Policy Area and abutting a very small SPA for a few metres is not a reasonable justification for ‘approximately 30 hectares’ of employment use’.

Question 8. a) relating to both Site 761 and 764 also has a question mark over the reply that the site(s) ‘Likely to have a significant adverse impact on the surrounding landscape?’. The site assessments for both Site 761 and 764 state ‘ ? It is uncertain what effect the proposal is likely to have on the landscape / more information is required.’. The Parish Council have identified clear evidence that the impact on the surrounding landscape will be detrimental.