Major upcoming investments – including world-class leisure facilities, transport upgrades, town centre regeneration and expanded green corridors – are set to unlock significant opportunities across the borough and the wider region.
To harness this growth sustainably, the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 will set out a long-term roadmap to guide the scale, location, design and layout of new homes, jobs, open spaces and services across the borough.
What they are asking you about
They want to hear your views on:
- long-term vision and priorities – how the borough should grow and develop up to 2050;
- the scope and direction of the plan, including the policies it should contain;
- ideas regarding what types of development, facilities or open spaces are needed to improve everyday life;
- how to assess and select potential development sites to deliver homes and jobs alongside essential services, while protecting wildlife and minimising climate risks like flooding;
- how to assess and manage potential impacts as the plan develops; and
- how best to engage throughout this process to help shape the borough’s future.
They are also asking landowners, developers and residents to nominate potential sites across the borough. The ‘call for sites and development opportunities’ exercise, open since July, has been extended until 11.59pm on Monday 23 November 2026 to align with the close of this consultation.
Please use the structured questions to share your feedback, there are also specific questions on the following supporting documents:
- Engagement Strategy (outlines how we plan to consult and involve you at every stage).
- Site Selection Methodology (an updated draft – as previously read-only).
- Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report (outlines the environmental, social and economic issues we need to assess and monitor as the plan develops).
Useful information can be found here: Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 | Bedford Borough Council
Accompanying materials (including a summary leaflet and project initiation document) are available to view or download from the portal. You can also view a digital portrait of the borough showing the latest baseline spatial data at www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2050.
How to respond
This consultation – known as the ‘scoping’ or ‘getting ready’ stage – is open until 11.59pm on Monday 23 November 2026. Late or anonymous responses cannot be accepted.
Please respond online as this is your quickest and most efficient way to take part. Visit the consultation portal at https://localplan.bedford.gov.uk to register or log-in and submit your feedback.
You can also use our separate online surveys to:
- nominate potential development sites (such as housing and employment land) from our ‘call for sites and development opportunities’ webpage at www.bedford.gov.uk/callforsites; and/or
- nominate ‘local green space’ designations (such as parks, allotments and playing fields) that are of particular importance to the local community and meet the criteria set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (see https://arcg.is/1XbfSu0).
Further information
If you have questions or need assistance accessing the consultation material or portal, please contact the Planning Policy and Strategy Team:
· Email: planning.policy@bedford.gov.uk.
· Phone: 01234 718070.
· Post: Planning Policy & Strategy Team, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Fourth Floor, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP.
During this consultation, you can visit the ‘What’s On Bedford Borough Hub’ (50 Silver Street, Bedford, MK40 1SU) on Wednesdays and Thursdays (1:00pm–4:00pm) to speak with a member of the Planning Policy and Strategy Team.
Information about the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 timetable and next steps is available at www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2050. The webpage also contains frequently asked questions, details on the scope of the plan, notice of commencement, key deliverables and governance arrangements.