Central Bedfordshire Council has now published its preferred options for the new Local Plan, which will cover the period from 2015 to 2035.
Robinson & Hall, Land and Property Professionals explain….the new Local Plan will replace the old Local Development Frameworks for the north and the south of the area including the Core Strategy documents. It includes provision for 20,000-30,000 new homes and 24,000 new jobs up to 2035. The precise number of new homes still needs to be finalised, and will be in addition to the 23,000 homes that are currently in the pipeline.
The Council’s strategy is to deliver this significant level of development focused on the main transport corridors, including the A1 with the East Coast Mainline railway, the M1 with the Thameslink railway, and the proposed East-West transport links. In particular, a series of new villages is proposed within the A421 and A1 corridors, and the delivery of a new market town at Tempsford Airfield.
The spatial strategy also includes significant urban extensions adjacent to Luton, to provide for the housing need arising from the area, as well as ‘moderate extensions’ to existing towns and villages. The scale, number and location of these sites have not yet been identified. In terms of new jobs, junction 11a and 13 of the M1, and A1 at Biggleswade South are identified as being suitable locations for strategic employment sites. The land at RAF Henlow is to be redeveloped to allow for mixed use housing and employment development.
A suite of technical information accompanies the draft Local Plan including transport modelling, sustainability appraisal, Green Belt review, strategic flood risk assessment, housing market assessment, economic market assessment, urban and settlement capacity study, viability report, and water cycle study. These documents inform the outcome of the Local Plan, so it is important to have reviewed and understand the content of these studies.
Now is the time to review your land and the potential for development on sites close to settlements or within the areas identified by the Council. A consultation period is currently underway and comments on the draft Local Plan and its technical work, as well as representation on new and suitable sites should be submitted on or before 29th August 2017.
If you’re interested in knowing more or would like to discuss the suitability of any sites please do not hesitate to get in touch with myself or one of the team.
Call or email Andrew Barr on 01234 362926 or ahb@robinsonandhall.co.uk
Call or email Alex Munro on 01234 362891 or ajm2@robinsonandhall.co.uk
