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

Support

Representation ID: 8487

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

In accordance with Section 19 of the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, policies set out in Local Plans must be subject to Sustainability Appraisal (SA). Incorporating the requirements  of  the  Environmental  Assessment  of  Plans  and  Programmes  Regulations  2004, SA is a systematic process that should be undertaken at each stage of the Plan’s preparation, assessing the effects of the Local Plan’s proposals on sustainable development when judged against reasonable alternatives.
Gladman note that the Draft Plan consultation is accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal dated June 2021. Bedford Borough Council (BBC) should ensure that the results of the SA process clearly justify its policy choices. In meeting the development needs of the area, it should  be  clear  from  the  results  of  the  assessment  why  some  policy  options  have  been  progressed, and others have been rejected. Undertaking a comparative and equal assessment  of  each  reasonable  alternative,  the  Borough  Plan  Review’s  decision‐making  and scoring should be robust, justified and transparent.
It is noted from the Draft Sustainability Appraisal  Report (July 2021), that more detailed  location options for growth will be considered in the final Sustainability Appraisal Report which will be prepared as the local plan is finalised. Through the sustainability appraisal process, careful consideration should be given to the ability of sites of varying size, location and  nature  to  contribute  towards  sustainably  meeting  future  housing  needs  in  full.   The  wider strategic context of the area as a location for economic growth and change must also be  a  key  factor  in  identifying  a  sustainable  growth  strategy  for  the  borough  through  to  2040.

Object

Representation ID: 8490

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

The  consultation  document  in  sections  1.46  to  1.51  notes  that  several  of  the  borough’s  parish councils have played a significant role in progressing commitments for housing growth  in  the  2020  –  2040  plan  period,  with  ten  local  communities  choosing  to  prepare  neighbourhood plans when given the opportunity in 2017. The context for neighbourhood plans  that  have  been  prepared  to  date  is  the  spatial  strategy  and  housing  requirement  contained in the adopted Local Plan 2030. The process of preparing a new local plan that takes into account the housing requirement derived from the standard method in national planning  guidance  for  the  period  2020  to  2040  will  therefore  necessitate  the  full  reconsideration of the spatial strategy and the sustainable contribution that neighbourhood areas can make towards meeting development needs.

Object

Representation ID: 8491

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

The proposed vision sets a series of ambitions for the borough over the plan period. At this stage final decisions have not yet been taken with regard to the spatial strategy and the location of key strategic developments across the borough that will need to be planned for over the plan period. Further consideration may therefore need to be given to the content of the vision to reflect the final policy choices that are made as the plan preparation process progresses. In particular, it will also be necessary to take note of Paragraph 22 of the NPPF, which requires a vision of at least 30 years where larger scale developments such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part of the strategy for the area. It should be noted that the Housing Secretary has now confirmed in writing to the Planning Inspectorate that planning practice guidance will be updated to explain the way  local  authorities  should  reflect  the  recent  NPPF  paragraph  22  changes  in  their  local  plans to ensure that plan preparation can continue at pace whilst also ensuring that the government’s objectives are delivered.

Object

Representation ID: 8493

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

The  objectives  of  the  plan  are  shaped  around  four  themes:  “more  prosperous”,  “better  places”, “more accessible and “greener”. There is an opportunity to embed the themes and objectives within the wider strategic context, to shape the role that Bedford Borough will play in delivering the emerging vision and ambitions for the wider Oxford‐Cambridge Arc.

Object

Representation ID: 8495

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

Growth and Spatial Options
A combined approach is needed in order to sustainably meet the challenge of delivering against identified development needs over the plan period to 2040. To meet housing need and capture the socio‐economic benefits of the infrastructure associated with the Oxford‐Cambridge Arc throughout the period to 2040 and beyond, proportionate levels of growth should  be  directed  across  the  settlement  hierarchy.  This  will  complement  growth  from  sustainable urban extensions and new settlements, ensure choice and competition in the market and those communities to improve their levels of sustainability. It will therefore be necessary for the housing requirements of neighbourhood areas to be revisited and/or for the Council to allocate land in these locations through the Local Plan Review. An approach that takes a pro‐active approach towards enabling development in sustainable locations is required, which will include a combination of strategic scale sites and growth adjacent to existing  settlements.   Gladman  are  promoting  land  in  locations  including,  Renhold, Shortstown, Willington and Wootton, all of which are well related to the existing built form and  the  A421  corridor  and  can  be  delivered  as  part  of  a  sustainable  and  comprehensive  strategy for growth across the borough to 2040.
The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) highlights that “A wide range of settlements can play a  role  in  delivering  sustainable  development  in  rural  areas,  so  blanket  policies  restricting  housing development in some types of settlement will need to be supported by robust evidence of their appropriateness6.” All settlements within the borough boundary have the potential to contribute further towards the overall development requirement and there is a need to plan to ensure that services can be maintained and enhanced in these locations to meet the day to day needs of residents. A study of the sustainability credentials of settlements across the  hierarchy  should  therefore  be  undertaken  to  fully  explore  the  potential  of  these  settlements to accommodate appropriate levels of growth, factoring in demographic information over the duration of the plan period and the availability of day‐to‐day services and  facilities.   Indeed,  the  NPPF  2019  sets  out  that  planning  policies  should  identify  opportunities for villages to grow and thrive, especially where this will support local services7.   Furthermore,  the  retention  and  development  of  accessible  local  services  and  community facilities should be enabled by planning policies and decisions8.
The spatial strategy, SA and site assessment scoring criteria must also fully recognise the sustainability benefits of village development and in doing so reflect the changing habits of people  over  the  plan  period  including  the  increased  role  of  working  from  home  and  the  associated need for social and community infrastructure improvements in settlements across the hierarchy.
It is important that the local plan enables the delivery of a wide range of sites in order to support the delivery of housing at the levels that are required by the Standard Method. The approach should embrace the need to support sites of all sizes. It is important not to overly rely on large scale strategic locations for growth; by enabling the widest range of sites across settlements throughout the hierarchy, Bedford will maximise delivery and satisfy housing need in the borough.
As the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) highlights, “A wide range of settlements can play a role in delivering sustainable development in rural areas, so blanket policies restricting housing development in some types of settlement will need to be supported by robust evidence of their appropriateness”9.
Whilst  the  Draft  Plan  explains  correctly  that  work  on  the  Local  Plan  2040  should  not  be  delayed in anticipation of the progression of the Oxford Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework, the plan making process represents an opportunity to fully explore a range of growth and spatial strategy options that will have the ability to support economic growth in a manner that aligns with the wider ambitions of the Oxford Cambridge Arc.

Object

Representation ID: 8497

Received: 27/09/2021

Respondent: Gladman Developments Ltd

Renhold
Salph End, Renhold is less than half a mile from the Bedford Urban Area boundary and is therefore  considered  to  be  a  suitable  location  for  growth  within  each  of  the  emerging preferred options. Salph End was previously identified as a location suitable for growth in the region of 500 dwellings early stages of the adopted Bedford Local Plan 2030 without this  being  recognised  in  the  final  plan.  No  growth  ended  up  being  allocated  here  in  the  adopted Local Plan. Opportunities for growth in this location should be central to any strategy to meet the revised housing requirement over the period to 2040.
Through the Local Plan Review it would be appropriate for this previous recognition to be now realised with a proportionate amount of growth directed to Salph End as a component part of the spatial strategy within the Local Plan Review. The site Gladman is promoting in Salph  End  was  previously  a  preferred  option  (Site  198)  and  is  therefore  a  contender  for  allocation in the Local Plan Review.
Shortstown
Shortstown is well located close to the A421 corridor at the southern edge of the Bedford Urban Area with employment and recreational facilities close by. The village is defined as a  ‘Key  Service  Centre’  comprising  a  good  range  of  services  and  facilities  and  being  well  connected to larger town centres by public transport and cycling. It is acknowledged to be a sustainable location for growth within Bedford’s existing settlement hierarchy and should play  a  central  role  in  meeting  the  revised  growth  requirement  to  2040.  Gladman  has  submitted separate representations relating to Land off The High Road, Shortstown. The location of the site, to the north of the settlement would represent a logical extension in a location  that  is  well  related  to  the  services  and  facilities  in  Shortstown  and  the  Bedford  Urban Area to the north.
Wootton
Wootton  is  a  key  service  centre  in  the  southern  transport  corridor  where  an  element  of  further growth is being considered in 3 of the 4 preferred strategies. Gladman agree that further growth should be directed to Wootton through the Local Plan Review as no further growth  is  directed  to  Wootton  as  part  of  the  adopted  Bedford  Local  Plan  2030  due  to  existing commitments and completions at the start of the plan period.
Gladman recognise that the parish is preparing a neighbourhood plan but notwithstanding the outcomes of the pending examination, this should not dictate the emerging strategy for Wootton through the Local Plan Review which will cover an extended plan period and need to meet a greater housing requirement. Growth in Wootton should certainly form a part  of  the  strategy  for  the  Local  Plan  Review,  and  as  recognised  through  the  site  assessment work undertaken by the Wootton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, land at Hall End Road is a strong contender for allocation for residential development.
Willington
Willington  is  a  designated  rural  service  centre  situated  in  the  eastern  transport  corridor,  which in one of the four preferred options being considered. Whichever strategy is ultimately carried forward, Willington is a sustainable settlement on the A421 corridor and can play a role in sustainably accommodating the level of growth needed in the Borough over the plan period. New homes and accessible open space in this location will also assist in sustaining and enhancing the services and facilities in the village as well as contributing to the local and affordable housing needs of the village and the Borough.