Bedford Borough Council’s Conservative administration took decisive action to bring the borough’s future growth back under local control by launching work on a new Local Plan.

The Local Plan 2050 will help ensure growth is properly planned, supported by the infrastructure residents expect and need, and guided by a clear long-term vision for Bedford Borough.

It will cover housing, transport, jobs, town centres and environmental protection - making sure the borough is ready to take full advantage of major opportunities such as the Universal development.

Residents will not be passengers in this process as a borough-wide call for sites will launch in summer 2026, giving landowners, developers, community groups and residents the opportunity to suggest sites for development or regeneration.

This will be followed by a six-week public consultation in autumn 2026, where residents will be asked what matters most for the future of their communities and the Borough.

No decisions on development sites will be made at this early stage. Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning & Prosperity, Councillor Andrea Spice, has been absolutely clear this is about listening, gathering evidence, and shaping the right plan for Bedford Borough’s future.

Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning & Prosperity, Councillor Andrea Spice commented,

“We are determined to get this right with growth properly planned, backed by the right infrastructure, and shaped by the views of local residents.

This is about giving communities a real voice and making sure Bedford Borough is ready for the opportunities and challenges ahead, and I urge when the public consultations are running, please make sure you have your say in shaping Bedford’s future.”