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

Support

Representation ID: 3808

Received: 26/08/2021

Respondent: Canal & River Trust

We are the charity who look after and bring to life 2000 miles of canals & rivers. Our waterways contribute to the
health and wellbeing of local communities and economies, creating attractive and connected places to live, work, volunteer and spend leisure time. These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the strategic and local green-blue infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats. By caring for our waterways and promoting their use we believe we can improve the wellbeing of our nation. The Trust is a statutory consultee in the Development Management process. Based on the information available we have the following general comments to make:

The Canal & River Trust strongly supports the proposed Bedford-Milton Keynes Waterway Park and is part of the
Consortium which was established in May 2010.
It is therefore encouraging to note that the provision of the Waterways Park is included as an integral part of the vision and objectives for the Local Plan. It will be important to ensure that this project is recognised as a strategic scale environmental project and that the proposed waterway is fully supported in the Local Plan.
Any development which is in close proximity to the proposed route of the Bedford Milton Keynes Waterway Park should not only safeguard the route but deliver or fund delivery of the relevant section as access routes to it, part of Green infrastructure or Environmental Net Gain requirements.