What is the Local Plan 2035? The Local Plan 2035 will set out how much growth and development there will be in Bedford Borough until 2035 in order to meet local needs. It will plan for the additional houses and facilities required to support new communities and provide jobs and services such as schools transport and shops.
How much growth/development/housing is required? The calculation of Bedford Borough s future housing needs is set out in the Strategic Housing Market Assessment. This is a technical document produced on the council s behalf by an external party that identifies the housing need in Bedford Borough and explains how it has been calculated. Central government expects councils to produce a local plan to demonstrate how the need for housing will be met. The consultation is therefore not about the scale of development but on how and where it will take place. The document shows that as a local area we will need 19000 more homes in the borough by 2035. It is a challenging number but over half of the housing need is already met by existing planning permissions or allocations meaning that the Local Plan 2035 needs to allocate land for around an additional 8000 new homes. Where does the preferred strategy allocate the additional homes needed for the local plan? 3% New settlement(s) 27% (2200) 32% 27% brickworks 12% (1000) Within and adjoining urban area 26% (1988) 26% 12% Group 1 villages 32% (2600) Group 2 villages 3% (225) 2
Wymington Rushden Podington Upper Dean Yelden Lee Farm nearsharnbrook Sharnbrook Kettering 600 Preferred Strategy Growth Allocations Wymington Rushden Odell Felmersham Harrold Podington Riseley Upper Upper Carlton Pavenham Dean Dean Lee Farm Thurleigh nearsharnbrook Yelden Yelden Airfield Sharnbrook Kettering 600 Stevington Kettering Turvey Thurleigh Bletsoe Wymington Odell Felmersham Rushden Little Harrold Northampton Podington Riseley Staughton Wymington Rushden Keysoe Little Ernest 5 Podington Riseley Staughton Carlton Twinwoods Pavenham Raven Stagsden Church Keysoe North Crossr Row North Lee Farm Row Thurleigh nearsharnbrook Airfield Sharnbrook 600 Colmworth Cambridge Oakley Thurleigh Wyboston nearsharnbrook Bletsoe Stevington Clapham Sal Turvey En Sharnbrook Lodge 50 600 Garden Odell Felmersham Village Harrold Northampton Colmworth Cambridge Hill W Thurleigh Bletsoe Road Odell Felmersham 84 Village Harrold Ernest Wyboston Carlton Twinwoods Pavenham Ravensden Church End & Wilden Roxton Crossroads Oakley South 27 Stevington Clapham Salph Great Stagsden Turvey End Urban Area Ernest Renhold Barford Wyboston Gibraltar 877 A421 Lodge Carlton Twinwoods Corner Northampton Pavenham Hill Ravensden Shortstow Keynes Road Church End & 84 Willington Wilden Roxton 27 Crossroads Blet Stagsden Oakley South Urban Area Cople Gibraltar Wootton Stevington 877 Corner Clapham Salph Great Wixams Turvey Shortstown Cardington End Renhold Barford Wilste Lodge Northampton Cotton Wootton Hill A421 Brick works Wixams End Road 84 Willington Legend Keynes Wilstead 1000 X 27 Bletchley Group 1 A421 Brick works Stagsden Railway Luton Urban Area Cople Key Service Centres Keynes 1000 X Gibraltar 877 London Major R Corner Bletchley Group 2 Luton Shortstown Cardington Rural Service Centres X Stewart London Group 3 Potentia Cotton Wootton Wixams Legend End Urban Extensions Lee Farm Thurleigh Airfield A421 A421 Wyboston Garden Legend Group 1 N.B. Number Railways indicates number of possible dwellings Wilstead Key Service Centres Group 1 0 2.5 5 Railways Key Service Centres Major Roads Major Roads A421 Brick works Group 2 Rural Service Centres Keynes 1000 X Group 2 X Brickworks Rural Service Centres Brickworks X Group 3 Group 3 Bletchley Potential New Settlements Luton Urban Extensions London ± Potential New ± Settlements Urban Extensions N.B. Number indicates number of possible dwellings 0 2.5 5 10 Kilometers Crown copyright N.B. Number indicates and database number of possible rights dwellings 2017 Ordnance Survey 100049028. You are not permitted to copy sub-license 0 distribute 2.5 or sell any 5 of this data to third 10 parties Kilometers in any form. Legend Group 1 Key Service Centres Group 2 Rural Service Centres Group 3 Urban Extensions X Railways Major Roads Brickworks ± Potential New Settlements N.B. Number indicates number of possible dwellings 0 2.5 5 10 Kilometers 3
What is the council consulting on? Through previous consultations and extensive research Bedford Borough Council has identified a number of areas which it considers are most suitable for development. We are asking residents to let us know their thoughts on the council s proposed development ideas for housing growth. In earlier consultations the council has already identified land for strategic employment and other aspects of growth; this consultation focuses mainly on housing development. Proposals The preferred strategy involves 4 types of development each of which is explained below: New settlements Building away from existing towns and villages to create entirely new communities. The creation of one or more new settlements will provide approximately 2200 dwellings by 2035 and more in the years following the local plan. 4
The four sites identified as potential new settlement development sites are Lee Farm near Sharnbrook Thurleigh Airfield Twinwoods near Ernest Wyboston Garden Village. Each site proposal includes employment provision and a range of other uses including primary and secondary schools open spaces and community facilities. You can find out more information and see maps regarding each site on the council s website: www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2035 Brownfield sites Land that has been built on before but is now disused. Since the brickworks closed in 2008 it has been acknowledged that this site represents a substantial opportunity for redevelopment. It is a brownfield site of about 52 hectares with good transport links; ideas for its future use have included employment as well as housing development with the potential to provide around 1000 dwellings. Considerations that may affect the development of this land include the proposed East West rail link and the surviving historic structures that are protected from unauthorised demolition. 5
Urban development Development within and on the edge of the urban area of Bedford and Kempston. The urban area of Bedford and Kempston is the most sustainable place for redevelopment in the borough as it has existing infrastructure like transport employment opportunities retail and community facilities within reach. This means that preference should be given to allocating sites within the urban area wherever possible. Sites on the edge of the urban area can also be suitable locations for growth where they have good accessibility to existing services and facilities within the urban area. However various constraints such as areas of flooding parks and open spaces highways access and the need to protect the local character of the area mean that not all sites are suitable. A list of all proposed sites within and on the edge Bedford and Kempston and the expected number of dwellings that could be built on each site is available on the council s website www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2035 6
Village Development Development in villages at a scale that takes account of growth that is already planned as well as existing infrastructure. Villages have been split into four groups depending on the facilities and services that are currently available. Group 1 Key service centres Villages in Group 1 have been identified as key service centres. These are the larger villages where people have access to a wider range of community facilities and services. Growth in these villages will primarily provide new homes but also services for the local community. Approximately additional homes are proposed for each of the villages of Clapham Great Barford Sharnbrook and Wilstead. Group 2 Rural service centres In these villages much lower amounts of growth are proposed. In our initial assessment of which sites could be allocated we have proposed that the villages of Carlton Harrold Ernest Oakley Roxton and Turvey should each provide between 25 and 50 additional homes. This flexible target recognises that the villages have different needs and opportunities for growth. Groups 3 and 4 Villages (Wilstead is one of these) Within these settlements we are not proposing to allocate any growth in the local plan but instead are supporting Parish Councils to prepare their own neighbourhood plans where they wish to do so. This would mean that they are able to allocate sites for development to provide opportunities for small-scale growth. Full details regarding the scale and locations of development suggested by land owners in each village are available on www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2035 7
How do I find out more? The full consultation report and supporting documentation can be found online including maps of proposed sites and reports of previous consultations - www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2035. They are also available in local libraries (subject to opening hours) and the Customer Service Centre Horne Lane Bedford. If you have any queries about the consultation or issues that are covered you can look at our FAQs on the website; or call our Local Plan phone number on 01234 718300. Leave a message and we will return your call. You can also visit our information point in Bedford Town Centre on Wednesday 26 th April Harpur Centre (Spiral) 9am-4pm Sunday 30 th April Harpur Centre (Spiral) 10am-3pm Saturday 20 th May Howard Centre (indoor entrance) 10am-3pm How do I have my say? The consultation period runs from 24 th April until 9 th June 2017. All comments (paper and electronic) should be received by 5pm on 9 th June 2017. All responses will be acknowledged and published. Questions on key issues can be found online; you do not have to answer every question. The easiest way to complete these questions is by using our dedicated webpage at www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2035. Comments can also be made by filling in the Word format questionnaire available online. If you prefer this method please attach the completed Word document and email it to planningforthefuture@bedford.gov.uk If you are unable to respond online or by email you can print and post your completed questionnaire or write a letter. Please attach a stamp and post it to: Local Plan 2035 Consultation Planning Policy Team Borough Hall Bedford MK42 9AP ENV023_17 design@bedford.gov.uk