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

Object

Representation ID: 7912

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

Thank you for inviting us to respond to the above Consultation; Sharnbrook Parish Council (SPC), as you will be aware, is at the final stage of the Neighbourhood Plan process and has found a site to accommodate 500 houses. We express the following views and/or observations.

• It is very clear that the data sets used to calculate the housing need for development are out of date. We acknowledge that Governemtn set the date of 2014, however we challenge this vehemently as there are data sets of 2018 that should be used. It is understood the current method formulae would not then result in the high expectations as described by the Bedford Borough LPA.
• It is reported that Bedford Borough are significantly disadvantaged over several neighbouring planning authorities in the Eastern Region – we ask that a clear statement is made in respect of this, in the evolving Local Plan.

Support

Representation ID: 7913

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

In respect of the Local Plan 2040 review, this Council considers that all options would be acceptable, with a preference for Option 2a as giving the best results for Bedford Borough given the figures that BBC must work with. This option offers a range of housing and employment which is crucial in any plan, along an already proven highway network and potential new rail line upgrade. The Council recognises the potential of a new settlement, however, as such development of large settlements as described would be as a useful addition to the housing stock. Our observation is that it would be quite distant from the town centre and therefore may cause some lack of cohesion within the Borough. Further, it does bring into question the issue around deliverability. We accept this should be tested through the Plan process.

Object

Representation ID: 7914

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

With regard to future development in the villages north of Bedford, development should be kept away from the A6 and north Bedfordshire villages, as the current infrastructure is already at capacity and there are no proposals to improve this under the current proposals, which is regrettable. Whilst we accept that all communities need some development over time, an allocation of 500 dwellings in Sharnbrook through our Neighbourhood Plan and LP2030 was, as we have previously stated, based on flawed methodology. While the Parish has worked hard to accommodate the requirement through the Neighbourhood Plan, any further development in the foreseeable future would be unacceptable. Any future development in villages should be considered very carefully, and not be imposed within the next term of the Local Plan, ie, after 2040, if not even later. Growing organically is far better for residents, allowing facilities to develop to cope with their needs and wants, rather than forcing an arbitrary number or percentage of growth. No community should be forced to grow by more than 10% in any decade to allow for cohesion and planning of facilities to meet the requirements of any area. SPC is glad to note that there has been no proposal to allocate housing in Sharnbrook or other North Bedfordshire villages, however it should not be overlooked in terms of the provision of facilities where they are required

Support

Representation ID: 7915

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

SPC welcomes the production of a revised Design Guide for the area, and hopes that this will be taken into account for all applications going forward once agreed. It is especially pleasing that the Borough Council notes the need for rural and urban developments to be differentiated and that the needs are quite different. In particular, the use of trees in large developments is to be applauded, but should be applied to all developments over, say, 5 dwellings. Every effort must be taken to retain trees, or to replant where this is not possible, as well as adding more trees to developments to help with carbon capture. Planning applications should be planned around existing trees, rather than removing "inconvenient" trees and replanting. Wherever possible.

Support

Representation ID: 7916

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

We note that the NPPF, Chapter 14, focuses on plans taking flood risk into account, and whilst we acknowledge BBC has taken this into account when conducting its SHELAA evaluations, it must be constantly at the forefront of all applications to avoid the issues that have been experienced locally in recent times. Mitigating flood risk must be a high priority for any development proposals in the Borough Council area in this period of significant Climate Change.

Support

Representation ID: 8226

Received: 26/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

Thank you for inviting us to respond to the above Consultation; Sharnbrook Parish Council (SPC), as you will be aware, is at the final stage of the Neighbourhood Plan process and has found a site to accommodate 500 houses. We express the following views and/or observations.

• It is very clear that the data sets used to calculate the housing need for development are out of date. We acknowledge that Governemtn set the date of 2014, however we challenge this vehemently as there are data sets of 2018 that should be used. It is understood the current method formulae would not then result in the high expectations as described by the Bedford Borough LPA.
• It is reported that Bedford Borough are significantly disadvantaged over several neighbouring planning authorities in the Eastern Region – we ask that a clear statement is made in respect of this, in the evolving Local Plan.

Support

Representation ID: 8227

Received: 26/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

In respect of the Local Plan 2040 review, this Council considers that all options would be acceptable, with a preference for Option 2a as giving the best results for Bedford Borough given the figures that BBC must work with. This option offers a range of housing and employment which is crucial in any plan, along an already proven highway network and potential new rail line upgrade. The Council recognises the potential of a new settlement, however, as such development of large settlements as described would be as a useful addition to the housing stock. Our observation is that it would be quite distant from the town centre and therefore may cause some lack of cohesion within the Borough. Further, it does bring into question the issue around deliverability. We accept this should be tested through the Plan process.

With regard to future development in the villages north of Bedford, development should be kept away from the A6 and north Bedfordshire villages, as the current infrastructure is already at capacity and there are no proposals to improve this under the current proposals, which is regrettable. Whilst we accept that all communities need some development over time, an allocation of 500 dwellings in Sharnbrook through our Neighbourhood Plan and LP2030 was, as we have previously stated, based on flawed methodology. While the Parish has worked hard to accommodate the requirement through the Neighbourhood Plan, any further development in the foreseeable future would be unacceptable. Any future development in villages should be considered very carefully, and not be imposed within the next term of the Local Plan, ie, after 2040, if not even later. Growing organically is far better for residents, allowing facilities to develop to cope with their needs and wants, rather than forcing an arbitrary number or percentage of growth. No community should be forced to grow by more than 10% in any decade to allow for cohesion and planning of facilities to meet the requirements of any area. SPC is glad to note that there has been no proposal to allocate housing in Sharnbrook or other North Bedfordshire villages, however it should not be overlooked in terms of the provision of facilities where they are required

Support

Representation ID: 8228

Received: 26/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

SPC welcomes the production of a revised Design Guide for the area, and hopes that this will be taken into account for all applications going forward once agreed. It is especially pleasing that the Borough Council notes the need for rural and urban developments to be differentiated and that the needs are quite different. In particular, the use of trees in large developments is to be applauded, but should be applied to all developments over, say, 5 dwellings. Every effort must be taken to retain trees, or to replant where this is not possible, as well as adding more trees to developments to help with carbon capture. Planning applications should be planned around existing trees, rather than removing "inconvenient" trees and replanting. Wherever possible.

Support

Representation ID: 8229

Received: 26/09/2021

Respondent: Sharnbrook Parish Council

We note that the NPPF, Chapter 14, focuses on plans taking flood risk into account, and whilst we acknowledge BBC has taken this into account when conducting its SHELAA evaluations, it must be constantly at the forefront of all applications to avoid the issues that have been experienced locally in recent times. Mitigating flood risk must be a high priority for any development proposals in the Borough Council area in this period of significant Climate Change.