Conservative administration secures millions in additional NHS investment following years of campaigning

Bedford Borough Council has announced a major funding boost from NHS England for new GP surgeries in Great Barford and Wixams, delivering on a core Conservative manifesto commitment from the 2023 election.

The NHS England grant funding represents a significant victory for the Conservative administration, which has campaigned for years to secure proper NHS infrastructure investment in Bedford Borough's growing communities.

For Great Barford, NHS England has increased its contribution from £525,000 to between £600,000 and £750,000, with the final amount to be confirmed by the end of March 2026. The additional funding will cover legal fees and mitigate potential shortfalls, ensuring the project can proceed without delay.

For Wixams, NHS England has committed between £4 million and £6.9 million from its 2025/26 underspend - a transformational increase from the original £600,000 ICB capital contribution. This substantial investment responds to updated delivery costs of £6.9 million and will significantly reduce pressure on other funding sources including Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy contributions.

Both projects had business cases approved by the Conservative-led Executive - Great Barford’s in April 2025 and Wixams’ in December 2025 - demonstrating the administration's commitment to delivering healthcare infrastructure for residents.

The exact NHS England contributions for both projects will be confirmed and transferred to Bedford Borough Council by the end of March 2026. Once confirmed, refreshed business cases will be presented to the Executive for review, with both projects then progressing to delivery.

The Conservative administration has made healthcare infrastructure a cornerstone of its programme, recognising that growing communities need growing services. Both Great Barford and Wixams have experienced significant population growth, making new GP facilities essential for residents' wellbeing and quality of life both locally and in their broader areas of the Borough.

Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said: "This is fantastic news and represents years of hard work by our Conservative administration to secure the NHS investment our communities deserve. Since our 2023 manifesto, we pledged to deliver GP surgeries for our growing villages, and we're making that happen. Great Barford and Wixams residents will soon have modern, purpose-built healthcare facilities on their doorstep with more schemes coming online for Wootton, Bromham, and Kempston. This is what happens when you have a Conservative team that fights for local communities and delivers on its promises."

Councillor Graeme Coombes, Conservative Group Leader and Ward Councillor for Wixams and Wilstead, said: "The Conservative Group has been relentless in campaigning for proper NHS funding for Wixams. Our community has grown rapidly, and residents deserve excellent local healthcare. Securing up to £6.9 million from NHS England is an extraordinary achievement that reflects our administration's determination and hard work. This funding transforms the project into a fully-funded, deliverable scheme. My colleagues Cllrs Frost, Spice, and I pledged to deliver for Wixams, and we're doing exactly that. This is the difference a Conservative administration makes."

Councillor Philippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, Ward Councillor for Great Barford, said: “I am delighted that we have secured the final piece of funding for the Great Barford GP Surgery. It’s been hard won and will be transformative for the residents of Great Barford and surrounding villages.”