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

The term "A421 corridor" may have been interpreted in previous "issues & options" as to be west of Bedford where growth is seen to be taking place, and not to include the villages to the east. Eastern Parishes will already be hit and compromised by routing of EWR new alignments

Transport modelling shows Pink, Yellow & Brown and Brown to be more favourable, but misses the opportunity of a new settlement at Little Barford to support EWR at St Neots south. This would then add weight to a Pink & Brown development strategy that would align with the later “option 2b” being the best

Little Barford was not in the mix at previous consultation. Its potential for strategic support of EWR needs to be taken into account, and would favour option 2b

Little Barford was not in the mix at previous consultation. Its potential for strategic support of EWR needs to be taken into account, and would favour option 2b

The Draft Sustainability Appraisal Report, May 2021 appears to have been superseded by the June 2021 version It seems to favour the Urban Growth. Weight should be given to the Town Plan regeneration needed to support EWR through Bedford

Of the 8 Key Service Centres identified in the Local Plan 2030, Bromham, Clapham, Great Barford and Sharnbrook were each allocated 500 homes. Shortstown, Wilstead, Wixams and Wootton were not allocated. The growth ratio for both Great Barford and Sharnbrook represented an increase of over 50%, creating extreme expansion that is disproportionate compared to all other Key Service Centres. No further growth should be allocated to these parishes until previous allocations are built out and left to mature and integrate into the previous communities.

New Development Strategy should be a combination of the previously identified Pink and Brown proposals (current Option 2b) with a new settlement at Little Barford, which would support EWR with a new station at St Neots south, and Urban Growth in and around Bedford.

Any further allocation to existing rural villages will increase the use of the car, with a detrimental impact on achieving sustainable transport and will increase emissions. A new settlement is required that can be readily integrated into existing transport networks and support East-West links.

Prefer Option 2b

Towns Fund is to support regeneration in deprived urban areas. Bedford has been successful in its bid (awarded £22.6m)

Government Change of Use to residential (August 2021) needs to be accounted for

Study suggests Town Centre is focus for retail. This seems flawed as out of town retail parks increase in their popularity, unless you create a town centre retail park with free parking, a sort of mini MK Central in Bedford

TC1S infers new shopping local centres in Key Service Centres. Any required allocation should be made through local demand in the Neighbourhood Plan process