Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Support

Representation ID: 10361

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: East West Railway Company Limited

Agent: Mrs JANE PARKER

This response to the Local Plan 2040: Plan for Submission, April 2022 [the “Submission Plan”] is
submitted by Adams Hendry Consulting on behalf of East West Railway Company Limited (EWR
Co).
EWR Co is the organisation responsible for delivering East West Rail (EWR), a major rail project
aiming to deliver both new and enhanced rail infrastructure to provide frequent, fast, and reliable rail
links for communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Cambridge.
At the time of writing, a decision on the preferred route alignment has yet to be made. The latest
EWR proposals were subject to a second round of non-statutory public consultation between 31st
March 2021 and 9th June 2021. EWR Co is currently considering potential route alignments in light
of responses to the non-statutory consultation and therefore this response to the Submission Plan
is made on a without prejudice basis. EWR Co will provide an update on its position and any
implications it may have for the Local Plan in advance of the Local Plan Examination.
Proposed Development Strategy to 2040
The spatial strategy directs the further growth required to meet assessed needs to 2040 to locations
that are currently accessible or will become accessible during the period covered by the Local Plan.
EWR Co is supportive of local aspirations for, and the delivery of, new homes and communities at
Kempston Hardwick and Little Barford and notes that the delivery of EWR will mark a step change
in rail connectivity for these new communities.
EWR Co welcomes the recognition by the Council that the completion of EWR will result in the
creation of highly accessible locations around new rail stations. By concentrating on accessible
locations, the spatial strategy aims to minimise the need to travel by car and therefore reduce the
emission of carbon dioxide in line with the objectives of the Plan.
South of Bedford Area
The South of Bedford strategic policy area allocated by Policy HOU12 extends from the edge of the
urban area to the borough boundary south and west of Bedford. This area includes locations where
strategic development is already planned or has recently taken place and identifies new opportunities
for strategic rail-based growth at the core of the Arc to deliver new jobs and homes.
A new settlement at Kempston Hardwick forms the centre piece of South of Bedford Area allocation
as discussed below.
New Settlement at Kempston Hardwick
A new settlement is proposed at Kempston Hardwick. The policy requirements for at least 4,000
new homes are set out in Policy HOU14.
Policy HOU14 recognises that development will be served by the new rail station on the EWR line
at Stewartby Hardwick. In respect of a potential new EWR station in this location, EWR Co consulted
on two service concepts as part of the NSC:
• Concept 1 would retain the existing service (in a modified form) and introduce limited-stop
Oxford – Cambridge services. No changes were proposed to the location of the existing
Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick stations in this concept.
• Concept 2 would provide improved services focused on a consolidated number of stations.
Stewartby station would be relocated to a site in the vicinity of the current Broadmead Road
level crossing and would provide access to the railway for the users of the current Stewartby
and Kempston Hardwick stations. The precise location of the new station remains to be
determined under this concept and would include associated infrastructure such as car parks
and access roads.
EWR Co acknowledges the fact that the Policy HOU14 includes reference to a proposed new EWR
station at Stewartby Hardwick. However, as it has yet to be confirmed which service concept will be
progressed by EWR Co, this may or may not be required. If concept 1 is taken forward, the need for
railway infrastructure improvements at Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick stations will be
considered as proposals for EWR are refined. Whichever option is selected, the new community will
have good access to EWR services. An update will be provided to the Council on this matter at the
earliest opportunity.
Little Barford New Settlement
Policy HOU19 allocates land for a new settlement at Little Barford, for at least 4,000 dwellings and
allocates further land to the east of the allocation as a contingency area “should land be required to
facilitate the EWR route and / or station within the site.”
The NSC identified two emerging preferred Route Alignment Options for Project Section D:
Clapham Green to The Eversdens in the Consultation Technical Report
(https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation/consultation-documents):
• Alignment 1 from St Neots South Option A to Cambourne North via the A428 Improvement
Scheme; and
• Alignment 9 from Tempsford to Cambourne North via the A428 Improvement Scheme.
Two possible locations for a new station were identified in the Tempsford/St Neots area where the
EWR alignment crosses the East Coast Main Line; either a station north or south of St Neots or a
station north or south of Tempsford.
A final decision is still to be made on the route alignment and station location. However, whichever
option is selected, EWR Co will work closely with the Council to ensure that there is easy access
and good connectivity to EWR services for the new local community.
Strategic Masterplans for New Settlements including a Transport and Movement Strategy
EWR Co supports the Council’s intention to prepare a strategic masterplan for each of the new
settlements proposed at Stewartby Hardwick and Little Barford, in conjunction with landowners,
stakeholders and the local community as set out in Policies HOU14 and HOU19, noting that there is
no certainty that a station will be provided at Stewartby Hardwick.
As a key stakeholder, EWR Co welcomes continued engagement with the Council on the preparation
of the strategic masterplans and the transport movement strategies for the two new settlements.
Participation in Examination Hearing Sessions
EWR would like to participate in the examination hearing sessions in relation to the spatial
development strategy and any specific development allocations and policy requirements that may
have an interaction with EWR.
Summary
EWR Co is supportive of local aspirations for, and the delivery of, new homes and communities at
Kempston Hardwick and Little Barford. Once the preferred route alignment has been confirmed,
EWR Co will advise the Council on the likely implications of the draft development strategy for the delivery of EWR which seeks to increase connectivity, investment and growth within Bedford
Borough and across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
EWR Co welcomes ongoing discussions with the Council to ensure that the emerging local plan
allocations are consistent with the preferred route of the railway once this is confirmed.
An update on the preferred route alignment will be provided by EWR Co at the earliest opportunity
and in advance of the Local Plan examination due to be held in 2023.