Response from South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth to the Design Guide Consultation.


This has been a very difficult consulation for community groups. There is a lot repetition making it a very long document and very unwieldy to comment on.

This design guide contains some really exciting work in chapter 12 on Sustainability and biodiversity. However this does not seem to clearly run through the guide. This chapter with the case studies should be at the start of the document and then there could be further details after this.
The design guide is severely hampered by the objectives of the Local Plan which are really out of date in relation to the sixth carbon budget and the latest work which shows how depleted the UK is in terms of Nature using the 2019 State of Nature report which highlights that 44 million pairs of breeding birds have been lost since 1967, 97% of wildflower meadows lost since the 1960’s, huge declines in hedgehogs and butterflies.

There need to be targets for Biodiversity creation as a whole in Bedfordshire and then these need to feed through into the design of green spaces and landscape. There needs to be much more emphasis on flowering shrubs both native and non native, ivy, spring bulbs that support pollinators, areas of long grass, wildflower meadows with management plans, areas of rotting logs, winding paths through trees and shrubs etc, areas of ponds that are kept filled up in the summer, untidy areas with brambles where birds can shelter from the huge danger of cats, areas of dead leaves and areas for hedgehodgs to hibernate and bare areas of earth on banks where solitary bees can create nests. The photos show very sterile areas for the most part.
As well as this there need to be corridors of flowering shrubs both native and non native for children to play with winding paths and big logs etc to encourage natural play. There need to be many informal play areas with old logs, shrubs etc and mounds and space for kicking a football for children to play out.

Health and co benefits of carbon cutting and sustainability need to run through this, opening up pathways for extra external funding to help with sustainability of the development.

In light of the Committee on Climate Change’s recent announcement on the slow pace of decarbonising the electricity grid, it is really important to include wind turbines/ farms going to a direct wire to a new estates, along with heat pumps etc and linking this in to landspace.

There needs to be far more in town centres to support artists who in turn create regeneration, and covered and indoor spaces. Solar panels on car parks and building and translucent solar rooves. Health and culture and local businesses and education on green skills need to be key to the town centre. Culture, heritage and the arts need to be key to supporting health, wellbeing and building community in town centres
There need to be much strong targets for cycling and walking .
Pollution into watercourses from microplastics in car tyres needs to be mitigated and prevented.
Response from South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth.
This has been a very difficult consulation for community groups. There is a lot repetition making it a very long document and very unwieldy to comment on.

This design guide contains some really exciting work in chapter 12 on Sustainability and biodiversity. However this does not seem to clearly run through the guide. This chapter with the case studies should be at the start of the document and then there could be further details after this.
The design guide is severely hampered by the objectives of the Local Plan which are really out of date in relation to the sixth carbon budget and the latest work which shows how depleted the UK is in terms of Nature using the 2019 State of Nature report which highlights that 44 million pairs of breeding birds have been lost since 1967, 97% of wildflower meadows lost since the 1960’s, huge declines in hedgehogs and butterflies.

There need to be targets for Biodiversity creation as a whole in Bedfordshire and then these need to feed through into the design of green spaces and landscape. There needs to be much more emphasis on flowering shrubs both native and non native, ivy, spring bulbs that support pollinators, areas of long grass, wildflower meadows with management plans, areas of rotting logs, winding paths through trees and shrubs etc, areas of ponds that are kept filled up in the summer, untidy areas with brambles where birds can shelter from the huge danger of cats, areas of dead leaves and areas for hedgehodgs to hibernate and bare areas of earth on banks where solitary bees can create nests. The photos show very sterile areas for the most part.
As well as this there need to be corridors of flowering shrubs both native and non native for children to play with winding paths and big logs etc to encourage natural play. There need to be many informal play areas with old logs, shrubs etc and mounds and space for kicking a football for children to play out.

Health and co benefits of carbon cutting and sustainability need to run through this, opening up pathways for extra external funding to help with sustainability of the development.

In light of the Committee on Climate Change’s recent announcement on the slow pace of decarbonising the electricity grid, it is really important to include wind turbines/ farms going to a direct wire to a new estates, along with heat pumps etc and linking this in to landspace.

There needs to be far more in town centres to support artists who in turn create regeneration, and covered and indoor spaces. Solar panels on car parks and building and translucent solar rooves. Health and culture and local businesses and education on green skills need to be key to the town centre. Culture, heritage and the arts need to be key to supporting health, wellbeing and building community in town centres
There need to be much strong targets for cycling and walking .
Pollution into watercourses from microplastics in car tyres needs to be mitigated and prevented.