Jan 2021 Inspectors Letter. Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015-2035
Update from CBC regarding aspects of the Local Plan received 01/02/2021
Following the further Local Plan hearing sessions held in December 2020, the Council has now received a letter from the Inspectors’ outlining their views on a number of key issues and providing a direction on the way forward for the examination.
The Inspectors’ have agreed with the Council on many of the points discussed at the recent hearing sessions, as summarised below:
- North of Luton. Agree with the Council that the north east parcel (beyond Link Road) should be removed. Also agree with Council’s approach to the Eastern Bowl, and potentially allowing some development. The allocation will be for 3,600 homes, including the Eastern Bowl.
- East of Arlesey. Now satisfied the submitted site boundary is appropriate and agree with the Council’s proposed modifications to confirm no development must take place beyond the gas pipeline.
- Sundon RFI. Now satisfied there is sufficient information to justify the allocation.
- RAF Henlow. Agree with the Council that Policy SE4 is not justified or effective. Include RAF Henlow under Policy EMP5 ‘Significant Facilities in the Countryside’.
- Harlington. Satisfied the school can be accommodated on-site and that acceptable and safe access can be achieved. Modification required relating to parent parking provision.
- Hockliffe. Agree with the Council that HAS24 should be deleted. HAS25 and HAS26 should remain in the plan at the reduced capacities identified.
- Shillington. Agree with the Council’s conclusions. HAS45 site area and capacity to be reduced.
This is positive news for the Council and marks an important step in terms of getting this much-needed Local Plan adopted.
In terms of Holme Farm and Marston Gate, the Inspectors’ feel that further mitigation is required to resolve their concerns. As such, they have requested further modifications to be prepared for these sites, as summarised below:
- Holme Farm. Development should be restricted to the south of the site (parcel 4c). The Inspectors’ broadly agree with the Council’s other resolutions for the boundary, legibility and accessibility.
- Marston Gate. Development should be restricted on the rising ground of the Greensand Ridge (zone 3) – either remove from boundary or retain as open land.
Officers will start work on these further modifications immediately and hope to be able to respond to the Inspectors’ within the next few weeks.
The next step will be for the Inspectors’ and the Council to agree a final schedule of proposed Modifications and to carry out the statutory 6-week consultation.
The letter will be published today on the Council’s website.
Kind Regards
Andrew Davie
Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ
| Email: Partnerships Community & Engagement Team Partnerships.CommunityEngagementTeam@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk