c/o East Northamptonshire House Cedar Drive Thrapston Kettering Northamptonshire NN14 4LZ Tel 01832 742355 Email [email protected] Web www.nnjpu.org.uk th 24 February 2014 Dear Sir/Madam RE: Bedford Borough Council- Local Plan 2032 Issues and Options consultation Thank you for consulting the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (NNJPU) on the Bedford Borough Council Local Plan Issues and Options Paper. Please find below an officer level response to the consultation focussing on strategic/cross boundary issues. The NNJPU has been involved in ongoing dialogue with the Borough Council to ensure that the requirements of the Duty to Cooperate are satisfied, which has included sharing of evidence, particularly in relation to objectively assessed housing needs. Through this process, the NNJPU has confirmed that it is not looking to adjoining authorities such as Bedford Borough to meet some of its objectively assessed needs. We welcome the opportunity to comment on this consultation and maintain recent helpful dialogue with yourselves. We are aware that East Northamptonshire Council (a constituent authority within North Northamptonshire) has also commented on the Issues Paper. Question 6: Do you agree with the range of cross boundary and strategic issues set out in paragraph 5.6? Question 7: Are you aware of any cross-boundary or strategic issues that you think should be added to the list? The list of cross-boundary and strategic issues is comprehensive. It is considered that reference should also be made to the following: 3. New development adjacent to the boundaries with other authorities: Given the strong relationships that exist between Rushden and Bedford, specific reference should be made to Rushden, given that the town is being identified as a Growth Town in the emerging North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy (JCS) review, and has growth aspirations, notably a SUE to the east of the town. It is anticipated that a broad location for the SUE will be identified in the JCS review, with the detail, including boundary through a site specific Local Plan prepared by East Northamptonshire Council. 4. Impact on the highway network: Reference should also be made to other significant strategic routes within the Borough, i.e. A6 (Leicester/Kettering/Rushden- Luton/London) and A428 (Northampton – Cambridge corridor). It is considered that it is important that cross-boundary public transport connections are fully considered within the development of the Local Plan. Strategic Planning for the Districts and Boroughs of Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough & East Northamptonshire Question 8: Do you agree that the starting point for housing growth (650-815 dwellings completed per year) set out in Table 1 is appropriate as a basis for deciding the level of growth we should have in Bedford Borough to 2032? The approach taken by the Council is based on population modelling undertaken by Edge analytics and is considered to be an appropriate starting point for deciding the level of housing growth. The NNJPU would be keen to support Bedford in setting an appropriate level of growth for the Borough. To this end, the NNJPU has shared the work that Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research has undertaken to assess objectively assessed need in North Northamptonshire, and the report to the 9 th January 2014 Joint Planning Committee which also considered other key factors that the draft National Planning Practice Guidance identifies should be considered in identifying Objectively Assessed Need. Question 19: Do you have any other comments on the Issues and Options Paper The NNJPU and its constituent authorities are currently reviewing the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy (JCS) to cover the period 2011-2031. As previously set out, the JCS review is proposing to identify Rushden as a Growth Town, and as part of this identify a broad location for a Sustainable Urban Extension to the East of the A6 at Rushden. The NNJPU and East Northamptonshire Council are working with partners, including the Local Highways Authority to ensure that relevant issues and the potential impacts of this, are fully considered in the development of the JCS, and identify suitable infrastructure and mitigation measures to minimise wider impacts, including on Bedford Borough. Accordingly, we remain keen to maintain an active dialogue with the Borough Council to ensure that the Rushden East proposals can bring mutual benefits to Rushden and its surrounding rural hinterland. We also remain keen to work actively with Bedford Borough Council in preparing an effective Local Plan, in accordance with the requirements of the Duty to Cooperate. Should you have any questions regarding this response, please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours faithfully Simon James Principal Planner Strategic Planning for the Districts and Boroughs of Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough & East Northamptonshire .