What now for Bedford’s Local Plan 2040?

CPRE Bedfordshire notes with concern the Mayor’s article in the Bedford Independent about the expected withdrawal of Bedford Borough’s Local Plan 2040.

On the basis of the recent correspondence with the Inspector, (published on the Council website) it does appear that the Council has little other choice, as the submitted plan has been ‘overtaken by events’ in terms of the impact of the Theme Park project.

However, the Mayor’s comment that ‘Existing Local Plan policies will remain in place until a new one is adopted, and neighbourhood plans for specific local areas will continue to be valid’ is a rather optimistic way of looking at the Council’s present predicament.

As a result of the extended pause in the Examination and the current loss of the five year land supply for housing development, Local Plan 2030 policies are treated as being out of date. This means that national policy dictates that planning decisions must apply a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’, thus creating ‘open season’ for speculative applications which the Council will find it extremely difficult to refuse. This situation could continue to apply until the next Local Plan is agreed in two or three years time.

In the case of parishes with Neighbourhood Plans, national policy does allow for development that conflicts with the neighbourhood plan to be refused where it is ‘likely to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.’ These plans will provide the only line of resistance available to the Council against inappropriate planning applications until the Local Plan is updated through a new plan.

We are encouraged by the Mayor’s statement regarding neighbourhood plans and hope to see the Council putting its full weight into defending neighbourhood plan policies, where they can serve to prevent unwelcome and inappropriate development from being allowed.

Read more about Local Plan 2040 on Bedford Borough Council’s website.