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

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

The Employment Land Study, June 2021 (ELS) identifies Thurleigh Airfield as having potential for intensification and recommends that the site remains in the Protect and Enhance category, which St Modwen Logistics support.

However, in considering sources of future supply (Section 8), the additional capacity at Thurleigh Airfield is excluded from the listed existing employment areas that are considered to be able to accommodate future employment growth (paragraphs 8.3-8.4). This is despite the ELS going on (paragraph 8.6) to state that the site has “significant potential to accommodate further B Class employment.”

The ELS (paragraphs 8.6-8.9) identifies Thurleigh Airfield as an ‘Exception Site’ – that is, a site with a “unique offer” where growth “is likely to be driven by factors that are not part of the general economic trends” with sector specific demand more likely (paragraph 8.6), highlighting sectors linked to aerospace, motorsport, life science, recording/ rehearsal space and communications technology (paragraph 8.7). The ELS goes on (paragraph 8.9) to state that due to the site’s location - that is, relative distance to the strategic road network – it is “less attractive to general employment demand” requiring a more flexible approach in terms of uses to ensure a mix of activities that support the aims of the borough and sector specific growth.

Whilst welcoming a flexible approach to development at Thurleigh Airfield, St Modwen Logistics consider Thurleigh Airfield should be prioritised as a location for Class B (and Class E) employment development. Thurleigh Airfield is a thriving and established business destination that at present caters for automotive, communications and logistics industries, offering open storage, warehouse and industrial space with excellent access via the A6 for logistics businesses. In this respect, the ELS assessment of the site notes it as being close to the A6 with adequate direct site access. The ELS assessment considers 70% of the site is developable. As such, even with a flexible approach, which St Modwen Logistics welcome and support, the site is a significant source of future employment land and St Modwen Logistics respectfully request that this is taken into account in the Local Plan 2040.

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

St Modwen Logistics support Thurleigh Airfield’s continued allocation for employment use, classified as Protect and Enhance. Under the Local Plan 2030 sites classified as Protect and Enhance play the primary role in supporting economic development and growth by offering attractive and available opportunities for development to retain and support existing businesses and to secure new inward investment.

The Bedford Employment Land Study (June 2021) (ELS) identifies Thurleigh Airfield as having potential for intensification and recommends that the site remains in the Protect and Enhance category, which St Modwen Logistics support.

St Modwen Logistics consider that sites identified as Protect and Enhance, and in particular brownfield sites such as Thurleigh Airfield, should be identified and prioritised as a location for employment growth in the Local Plan 2040. Taking account of the ELS (please see separate comments), Thurleigh Airfield has significant potential for growth and St Modwen Logistics respectfully request that this is taken into account in the Local Plan 2040.

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

St Modwen Logistics support Thurleigh Airfield’s continued allocation for employment use, classified as Protect and Enhance. Under the Local Plan 2030 sites classified as Protect and Enhance play the primary role in supporting economic development and growth by offering attractive and available opportunities for development to retain and support existing businesses and to secure new inward investment.

The Bedford Employment Land Study (June 2021) (ELS) identifies Thurleigh Airfield as having potential for intensification and recommends that the site remains in the Protect and Enhance category, which St Modwen Logistics support.

St Modwen Logistics consider that sites identified as Protect and Enhance, and in particular brownfield sites such as Thurleigh Airfield, should be identified and prioritised as a location for employment growth in the Local Plan 2040. Taking account of the ELS (please see separate comments), Thurleigh Airfield has significant potential for growth and St Modwen Logistics respectfully request that this is taken into account in the Local Plan 2040.

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

St Modwen Logistics did not put forward Thurleigh Airfield as a site for employment use in the Call for Sites that ran alongside the Issues and Options Consultation given it is already allocated in the Local Plan 2030. St Modwen Logistics support Thurleigh Airfield’s continued allocation for employment use, classified as Protect and Enhance, and respectfully request that it is prioritised as a location for employment growth in the Local Plan 2040 (please see separate comments on the Draft Plan Sections 3 & 6, and the Bedford Employment Land Study).

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

St Modwen Logistics support Thurleigh Airfield’s continued allocation for employment use, classified as Protect and Enhance. Under the Local Plan 2030 sites classified as Protect and Enhance play the primary role in supporting economic development and growth by offering attractive and available opportunities for development to retain and support existing businesses and to secure new inward investment.

The Bedford Employment Land Study (June 2021) (ELS) identifies Thurleigh Airfield as having potential for intensification and recommends that the site remains in the Protect and Enhance category, which St Modwen Logistics support.

St Modwen Logistics consider that sites identified as Protect and Enhance, and in particular brownfield sites such as Thurleigh Airfield, should be identified and prioritised as a location for employment growth in the Local Plan 2040. Taking account of the ELS (please see separate comments), Thurleigh Airfield has significant potential for growth and St Modwen Logistics respectfully request that this is taken into account in the Local Plan 2040.

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

In respect of the proposed updates to Local Plan Policy 69S, St Modwen Logistics respectfully request that:
• At point (i), taking account of representations made to the Employment Land Study, Sections 3 and 4, and paragraph 6.6 above, it is stated that employment sites that are already allocated remain a focus for growth (as under Local Plan 2030 Policy 69S(ii)); and
• At point (ii), for clarity, references to use classes reflect the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 which took effect on 1st September 2020 and which provides increased flexibility for businesses.

These representations are made on behalf of St Modwen Logistics. St Modwen Logistics own and manage Thurleigh Airfield, an established business park and existing allocation, classified as Protect and Enhance and subject to Policy 70 of the Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020).

St Modwen Logistics respectfully request that, for clarity, Local Plan Policy 70 is updated to reflect the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020.