Proposed Main Modifications Schedule

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Category/ Policy No./ Paragraph No.

Section 5.1

Paragraphs 5.1.4, 5.1.5,

Modification

5.1.4: Central Bedfordshire will deliver a minimum of approximately 24,000 new jobs over the plan period by growing existing key employment locations and sectors and by taking full advantage of our transport infrastructure opportunities. Within In addition to this figure, around 6,000 jobs will be delivered to meet 'footloose' strategic warehousing (B8 uses) on three major strategic employment sites.

5.1.5: To meet our statutory requirements and to serve the interests of our communities, the local plan proposes delivery of a 39,350 new homes. This includes 32,000 new homes to meet the housing need of Central Bedfordshire and 7,350 homes to meet unmet housing need arising from Luton. However, the plan additionally provides for further consideration of strategic growth and also proposes a Partial Review to further assess consider future potential in the East West and A1/East Coast Main Line corridors as new strategic infrastructure is committed. This will consider the potential for delivering a greater number of homes and the timescale in which they could be delivered (either in years 10-15 of this Plan period or in the next Plan period) depending on strategic infrastructure routing and timing, wider delivery support and sustainability and market factors. Further details of the proposed Partial Review are set out at section 5.5.

Justification

For clarity and effectiveness.

Grammatical correction, clarity on the number of homes being delivered for CB and Luton, and consequential change to delete text reflecting the proposed removal of Identified Locations for Future Growth (EXAM 12).

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Category/ Policy No./ Paragraph No.

Section 5.2

Paragraph 5.2.1

Modification

To add an introductory paragraph Section 5.2 to clarify the role and application of the key spatial objectives as follows:

• To develop additional growth opportunities around existing and committed transport hubs, through urban intensification, and on previously developed land – Central Bedfordshire's good access to strategic transport routes creates potential for higher density and more sustainable growth around existing key hubs. Undeveloped brownfield sites are limited but the Council is committed to maximising the use of available land within settlements (as with the Market Towns Regeneration Fund) and realising new brownfield opportunities. like former airfields as at RAF Henlow).

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• To commit to identifying future further opportunities for Strategic Growth in a Partial Plan Review to link with Government decisions around strategic infrastructure. further work on the Cambridge-Milton Keynes- Oxford Arc, East-West Rail, the Expressway, the expansion of Luton Airport and A1 upgrades through Central Bedfordshire. as set out below and the area marked on the Key Diagram. This would include further assessment of strategic growth locations at Tempsford, the Aspley Triangle, West of Luton and for additional growth to the East of Biggleswade.

Justification

Consequential change to reflect the proposed removal of Identified Locations for Future Growth (EXAM 12) and the deletion of SE4.

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Category/ Policy No./ Paragraph No.

Section 5.3

Paragraph 5.3.1

Modification

• Green Belt continues to be a constraint in the south of the area but there is a strong case for alterations to green belt boundaries around some Green Belt settlements to support communities and enhance their sustainability, as well as immediately adjoining Luton so that a good proportion of unmet housing need from Luton and Dunstable can be met close to where it arises

Justification

For clarity and effectiveness.

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Category/ Policy No./ Paragraph No.

Section 5.4

Modification

Bullet 1: Build on our existing and emerging economic strengths in key sectors and deliver approximately a minimum of 24,000 new jobs.

Bullet 2: Deliver around 39,350 new homes⁴ through new villages, moderate extensions to existing towns and villages in line with the provision of new infrastructure and to meet identified housing need close to key transport corridors (East-west, A1/East Coast Mainline and M1/Thameslink). This includes 23,528 27,696 homes that are already planned for or built.

Bullet 3: Balance the delivery of significant sustainable infrastructure and growth with the enhancement and protection of existing communities, landscape, heritage the historic environment and countryside and actively prevent the coalescence of settlements across the area through the identification of Important Countryside Gaps.

Bullet 4: Maximise potential opportunities for the intensification and redevelopment e.g. RAF Henlow and the regeneration of urban areas (Biggleswade, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Flitwick, Leighton Linslade & Sandy) through town centre frameworks and masterplans.

Bullet 5: Identify and deliver spatial options and strategic opportunities that could provide for longer term economic and housing growth across the corridor including through a Partial Plan Review. Commit to a future Partial Plan Review to identify opportunities to deliver longer term economic and housing growth, in line with Government decisions around strategic infrastructure. This growth will support, and must be supported by, new strategic infrastructure particularly the Oxford – Cambridge Expressway, A1 improvements and new rail stations/transport interchanges along the East West Rail route.

Justification

Consequential change

For clarity and effectiveness.

Consequential change to reflect the proposed removal of Identified Locations for Future Growth (EXAM 12)

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Category/ Policy No./ Paragraph No.

Section 5.5

Paragraphs 5.5.1, 5.5.2, 5.5.3, 5.5.4

Modification

5.5.1: In the context of Central Bedfordshire's position within will play a core role in relation to the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford Arc, the Council will commence a Partial Review of this Plan within six months of its adoption. and in particular on the intersection of the corridor with the key national north-south rail and road networks. As is indicated in the recent National Infrastructure Commission reports, and the Government's response in Budget 2017, the area is acknowledged to be of great economic importance nationally and is likely to experience major ongoing pressures for growth. While Government has made commitments to new strategic road and rail infrastructure, the timing, service and route selection for those investments still needs further development and definition while related issues such as potential for capacity upgrades of the A1 have still to be resolved. These decisions, for example on new east-west rail stations, will have a major impact on the location, scale of development and wider potential of strategic growth sites in Central Bedfordshire.

5.5.2: The Council has already undertaken a number of studies to help prepare for possible future growth which would realise some of the potential outlined by the National Infrastructure Commission. This Plan includes firm commitment to some strategic locations where there is a strong existing infrastructure base, such as Marston Vale, to a level of growth which can be supported by that together with firmly committed or achievable additional infrastructure. However, in other cases, such as the East West Rail new line to Cambridge and A1 upgrades, further decisions on routeing, timing and commitment, as well as wider investment and delivery support are required before firm allocations any decisions about future growth can be made.

5.5.3: The Council is therefore putting in hand a further assessment of the Identified Areas for Future Growth (see section 7.09) to look at the potential of strategic sites on the East West Rail/Expressway and the A1/East Coast Main Line Corridor routes in line with emerging decisions on this strategic infrastructure. This will enable further growth potential to be looked at in line with decisions to be taken on routes, timing and services, together with provision of wider infrastructure and delivery support. This assessment will inform a A Partial Review of this Plan will provide the opportunity to identify the potential for future growth that can capitalise on Government decisions around strategic infrastructure and will contribute to the ongoing work within the Central Corridor Area. The Partial Review will look at an improved evidence base on issues where work is ongoing and in particular at capacity for and deliverability of further growth on the strategic sites. It will consider whether there is delivery potential for years 15-20 (2030­2035) for the current Plan period or whether this would fall in the next Plan period, given long lead times for these large sites. It will look at 3 scenarios for growth:

• Base scenario – The strategic site allocations proposed in this plan as set out in Section 7, based on current and firmly committed strategic infrastructure and delivery support;
• Medium Growth – Growth potential if some but not all strategic infrastructure is delivered, for example, if provision of East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge is delayed to 2030 or later or if no major upgrade to the A1 is committed;
• High Growth – Growth potential if strategic infrastructure is delivered by 2025-30, improved viability and with a high level of local and developer funded infrastructure. For example, firm commitment to a new station at Sandy to interchange with East-west rail, Bedford to Cambridge would fit this scenario.

5.5.4: The Partial Review is proposed to start will commence within six months of adoption of this Plan and completed as soon as practically possible, in line with Government decisions around on routeing and financial commitment to strategic infrastructure are in place. Following the review the plan will be updated where necessary.

Justification

For effectiveness.

Consequential change to reflect the proposed removal of Identified Locations for Future Growth (EXAM 12)

For effectiveness.

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Category/ Policy No./ Paragraph No.

Section 5.5.4

New Policy SP1a

Modification

Insert new policy following paragraph 5.5.4 as follows:

Policy SP1a: Partial Review of the Local Plan

The Council will commence a Partial Review of the Plan within six months of adoption of the Local Plan 2035.

The Partial Review will investigate, as part of the wider statutory plan-making processes, and identify where necessary opportunities for future growth that can capitalise on any appropriate commitments to improve existing, or provide new, strategic infrastructure.

Following the review, the plan will be updated, where necessary.

Justification

To improve plan clarity and at request of Inspectors