Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Comment

Representation ID: 9568

Received: 20/08/2022

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

Regarding the proposal for a 4,000-dwelling settlement at Little Barford (Policy HOU19)

It is noted that the proposed settlement is close to the Cambridgeshire border and the town of St Neots. Whilst we are pleased to see the inclusion of serviced sites for secondary and primary schools (including Early Years Provision), we note that there is no such reference within the Policy or the supporting documentation (Education Implications paper and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan) to a special school. We would expect a development of this size to generate demand for SEND places. Whilst we are aware there are plans to provide a new special school in Bedford, should the Little Barford settlement provide no special school places, the Samuel Pepys Special School in St Neots will remain the closest provision to the Little Barford settlement. This is likely to put additional pressure on place provision on services covered within Cambridgeshire where Cambridgeshire County Council do not have the capacity to cater for this additional development. Therefore, Cambridgeshire County Council request that the local planning authority provide evidence to demonstrate how the demand for SEND places from the Little Barford new settlement will be mitigated.”

Comment

Representation ID: 9870

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

The Council acknowledges the proximity of the proposed allocation at Little Barford to the town of St Neots in the district of Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire and would therefore like to make the following comments.

The County Council acknowledges the very early stage of the East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge section project and the reliance placed upon its delivery for the proposed allocation at Little Barford. The modelling for the Bedford Borough Local Plan is reasonable but there is an assumption that EWR will be in by the proposed future year horizon. The proposed allocation also appears to be reliant on the delivery of improvements to the A428 between Caxton Gibbet and the Black Cat junction. The Council is concerned about the transport, environmental and climate impacts of locating a new settlement at Little Barford, including from potential increased traffic on the A428 in Huntingdonshire and Greater Cambridge, should development come forward ahead of an East West Rail station, or in the event that East West Rail was not delivered. The Council would like to see an increased focus on active travel and low carbon transport in the new settlement, particularly for links into St Neots and Huntingdonshire. This would contribute towards the achievement of net zero carbon.

The Council would like to work with Bedford Borough Council regarding the proposed allocation of Little Barford regarding the impacts and any mitigation on the transport network in Cambridgeshire, particularly around St Neots. The Council is currently developing on an Active Travel Strategy for Cambridgeshire and this should be taken into consideration for active travel links into Cambridgeshire.