Letter from Richard Fuller, MP
To All Parish Councils in North East Bedfordshire
Dear Parish Clerks,
You will be aware that Bedford Borough Council’s Local Plan 2030-40 consultation – The Issues and Options Consultation and Call for Sites – asked for sites for potential development to be submitted by August 14th 2020 and for consultation responses to be submitted by 4th September 2020.
The document contains suggestions for significant growth in our area which will have an impact on all of our residents. The large ‘garden villages’ at Twinwoods, Thurleigh, Colworth and Wyboston, put forward by the Borough Council in the last Local Plan but not taken forward at that time, and also submitted to the East West Rail consultation in March last year, could be considered as potential sites for 2030-2040/45, according to the document.
Given the Borough is looking to build up to c. 20,000 homes in the Borough during the period up to 2040 and only a relatively small number is proposed south of Bedford, it would appear the majority of the new homes will be built in North Bedfordshire. This is supported by the Borough’s submission to the East West Rail Consultation in March 2019:
New Settlement Opportunities for the Future
2.10 The Council recognises that one aim of the EWR Central section is to support new settlements in the Arc (and for new settlements to enhance the case for the railway)
2.11 During the preparation of its emerging Local Plan the Council recognised that it would be beneficial to allow the newly created and expanded communities to the south of Bedford to mature before introducing further change. This means that growth opportunities in Wootton, Shortstown, Wixams and Stewartby are limited for the duration of the Plan.
2.12 The Plan also considered the merits of four new settlement proposals, at Colworth (Sharnbrook), Twinwoods, Thurleigh and Wyboston. Whilst none of these has yet be allocated, it is likely that their promoters will submit them again to be considered for allocation the future plans.
2.13 The council is committed to an immediate review of the current submitted Local Plan once it is adopted, so as to incorporate the new Standard Method of calculating housing need. Each of the potential new settlements, ranging in size from 4,500 to 10,000 dwellings, will be considered for inclusion in that Plan if submitted.
2.14 Each site is to the north of Bedford and would be better served by the northern route for EWR through Bedford Midland, as would much of the development potential between Bedford and Cambridge. In the council’s view, therefore there is little or no scope to count further development south of Bedford against the benefits of a southerly route for EWR
For the Borough’s full consultation response to East West Rail, see the following link:
http://keepnorthbedsgreen.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BBC-EWR-Response-March-2019.pdf
I would urge Parish Councils to make a submission to the local plan consultation, which closes at 5pm on 4 September, and also to encourage your parishioners to have their say:
https://edrms.bedford.gov.uk/OpenDocument.aspx?id=0oGrcg%2bElvEgGZR6su3cQA%3d%3d&name=Issues%20and%20Options%20Paper.pdf
Sincerely,
Richard
Richard Fuller MP
Member of Parliament for North East Bedfordshire