Site Allocations for Central Bedfordshire North Area
As part of the Local Development Framework process for the North Area the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) identifies land for all forms of new development including housing, employment and other forms of development. At least 17,950 new homes and 17,000 new jobs must be provided between 2001 and 2026, in line with requirements contained in the East of England Plan and the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub Regional Strategy. A number of these homes and jobs have already been provided or have planning permission, but to help to provide for the remainder we are identifying land to be allocated for residential and employment purposes. Alongside meeting the housing and jobs targets, improvements are also planned to local services and infrastructure.
Examination Latest News
A Schedule of Changes to the Site Allocations DPD has been prepared by the Council. These changes are minor in nature and have arisen in response to representations made, for clarification or as updates. At the Pre-Hearing Meeting held on Friday 13th August 2010 the Planning Inspector Mr Robert Yuille requested that the Schedule of Changes be advertised for comment and be subject to a dedicated Sustainability Appraisal. The Council is therefore accepting comments on the 
Schedule of Changes document (application/pdf; 4919kB) only (document reference SD7(i)) up until Monday 11th October 2010. Please send any comments by email to ldf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or in writing to the LDF North Team at Central Bedfordshire Council. Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Beds SG17 5TQ.
The document is available to view at the Council Offices in Chicksands, Dunstable and Bedford and the Customer Service Centres in Biggleswade, Ampthill, Leighton Buzzard and Houghton Regis (opening times from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm on Friday); or in the main libraries across the former Mid Bedfordshire area. Copies of the document are available on request by contacting the LDF Team on 0300 300 4353.
Any queries in relation to the Hearing Sessions should be directed to the Programme Officer for the Examination, Simon Osborn. Mobile telephone number: 07710 969411 Email: simon@poservices.co.uk
Submission of the Site Allocations DPD and Public Examination
The Site Allocations DPD was submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 28 May 2010. The Secretary of State has appointed, Robert Yuille MSc DipTP MRTPI an Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate, to conduct an independent public examination into the “soundness” of the plan. The Inspector will make arrangements to examine the plan, taking all of the representations on the draft submission version of the plan into account.
In association with the Site Allocations document, a number of technical reports, consultation reports and a Sustainability Appraisal have been submitted. All the representations received in response to the Draft Submission Document (published for comment January to March 2010) have also been submitted for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate at examination. All this information may be viewed on the Site Allocations DPD Examination page
After the examination the Inspector will produce a report which may include changes to the plan to meet objections and other matters. These changes will be binding on the Council, who may then proceed to formally adopt the DPD.
The programme for preparation and adoption is set out in the Local Development Scheme (application/pdf; 829kB) and is summarised below. Please note, the date of commencement of the Public Examination is still subject to confirmation.
- Submission to Inspector - May 2010
- Pre Examination Meeting July - 2010
- Public Examination - Autumn 2010
- Production and Receipt of Inspectors binding report - November 2010
- Adoption of Site Allocations DPD - March 2011
Background on the previous stages of the Plan's preparation
Pre-Submission Public Participation – (25th January - 15th March 2010)The Draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) was approved for Submission to the Secretary of State at Central Bedfordshire Council meeting on 7th January 2010. The agenda and minutes from this meeting are available on the committee web page.
During its preparation the draft document has been considered at a series of Council meetings. The minutes from these meetings are available to download from the following web pages.
Development Strategy Task Force (12th/19th/23rd October 2009)
Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee (27th October 2009)
Executive (10th November 2009)
The Draft Submission version of this document was published for a seven week period which ended on 15th March 2010.
The supporting and technical documents relating to the DPD are also available to view in the reference document library
More detailed information on all sites considered for allocation is available at: Talk to Central Bedfordshire
Site Assessment Criteria
Public consultation was undertaken in September 2009 to ask the public, agents and statutory consultees what they believe to be the most important factors when considering sites to allocate for development.
The findings of this consultation were used to help finalise the assessment criteria which was applied in order to select the most appropriate sites for development. The findings can be viewed here (application/pdf; 612kB)
Issues and Options
Public consultation was undertaken in 2008 seeking comments on all potential sites and proposals submitted to the Council.
- During the first round in February to April over 10,700 responses were received, commenting upon around 369 initial potential development sites.
- During July and August a second round of consultation was undertaken on 74 new sites and proposals. Over 1,400 comments were received.
A consultation report setting out the results of both rounds of consultation has been published and is available to view at Talk to Central Bedfordshire
The consultation report can also be viewed at Central Bedfordshire Council offices in Chicksands, the Citizone Points of Presence in Biggleswade and Ampthill and local libraries.
For more information about the Site Allocations DPD, please contact the LDF North Team on 0300 300 8000 or email ldf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk