Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

River Great Ouse and valley should be specifically included in last paragraph of the Vision. River and its valley are most important environmental feature in the Borough and an area where substantial net environmental gain could be achieved quickly. It is important across the Borough, not just in Town Centre and lack of recognition of this raises concerns about development in or near the river valley. Protection and enhancement of River Great Ouse and valley across Borough should be one of key objectives in Local Plan 2040 and improvement in biodiversity a primary focus of its environmental and climate policies.

Housing requirement of 1275 p.a. is too high. Figures from Lichfields Planning Consultancy show that Bedford BC figures are much higher than those for surrounding Local Authorities – copy attached - and one of the highest outside the London Metropolitan Area. Bedford BC should produce a further calculation based on up to date ONS data which would result in c. 900 homes p.a.

Council supports housing development on small sites and would want windfall sites and conversion of empty retail/office properties to housing to be included in housing numbers. Brownfield sites should also be specifically prioritised and grades 1, 2 and 3a agricultural land should not be used for development unless no other sites are available.

500 homes in each of Bromham, Clapham, Great Barford and Sharnbrook in the current Local Plan is too high and should be reduced to 250 in each village as the road network will not be able to cope. In addition, Bedford BC has exceeded the previous Local Plan target of 970 homes p.a. and the Inspector has confirmed that the overbuild can be taken forward into the next Plan.

Council supports the removal of new settlements in the north because the A6 would not be able to cope with the additional traffic but is unable to comment on the options 2a – 2d as they are based on housing calculations with which Council disagrees.

Council supports development in the Town Centre. Development in villages would result in an increase in private car use to access facilities (paragraph 8.13 Draft Sustainability Appraisal Report) and should be restricted to sites identified in Neighbourhood Plans.

A high standard for conversions with space for home working should be included in the Design Code.

The Design Guide for the Local Plan 2040 should incorporate the following items.
Place making should reflect the local area and every urban area should have a Place Identifier for house types, historical buildings, churches, schools and retail/industrial areas. Open space with footpaths and cycle ways linked to community facilities and 20% net environment gains on sites close by should also be included. Green landscaping, play areas and biodiversity should be identified and local residents involved as in Neighbourhood Plans.
All new dwellings should have solar panels or heat pumps and be fully insulated. Bin, cycle and water storage should be specified. A mix of house types using lifetime homes principles and including space for home working should be included. Space around dwellings would need to meet national minimum standards and hard standing would need to be of a permeable nature.
Sustainable transport should be encouraged with new developments having access to frequent bus services, (every 15/20 minutes) and footpaths and cycle routes to retail areas, schools, community centres and churches. Parks and open spaces should include play areas for all age groups and there should be soft integration at the edges of sites adjacent to open countryside. Footpaths and cycle ways should link to footpaths/bridleways in the area.
Sites of 10 or more dwellings should include 20% green open space including hedges. Net environmental gain of 20% should be incorporated into the Guide for all development. Species should be identified, and green corridors included. If appropriate the green corridors should be extended to access the countryside.
Neighbourhood Plans have already identified what is special about their settlement and all new development should include place making either by the Borough Council or through a Neighbourhood Plan.

A high standard for conversions with space for home working should be specified.

Environmental net gain should be specified rather than biodiversity net gain, it should be set at 20% rather than the 10% in Government legislation and should be delivered on or within 5km of the development site. Protection for the River Great Ouse Valley should be included in policies.