Bedfordians, landowners and local businesses are being urged to help decide where new homes, shops and green energy projects will be built over the next quarter of a century.
Bedford Borough Council has launched its official call for sites exercise, a key stage in drafting the upcoming Local Plan 2050 which will guide long-term development across the area.
The initiative invites anyone from individual neighbours to large-scale developers to suggest parcels of land, ranging from small infill plots to major strategic locations.
Suggested uses for the land include housing and employment spaces, leisure and community facilities, town centre retail, and renewable energy or regeneration schemes.
However, the council stressed that submitting a site does not guarantee inclusion in the final blueprint.
Planning officers will evaluate every proposal against a strict range of factors, including access to local services, flood risks and potential land contamination.
To submit a plot, individuals must either own the land parcel themselves or have formal, documented permission from the landowner.
Cllr Andrea Spice (Conservative/Wixams & Wilstead), who has planning and housing in their portfolio, said: “This exercise gives landowners, developers, organisations and local communities the opportunity to help shape the future growth and development of the Borough.
“The new Local Plan must be based on robust, up-to-date evidence that reflects opportunities across the Borough.
“Early submissions will help identify available land and development opportunities to meet future needs – we encourage you to submit sites or development opportunities before the deadline.”
The online consultation portal will remain open for survey submissions until midnight on Friday, 30 October 2026.
Looking ahead, the council will also launch a secondary consultation in September 2026 to gather public feedback on its site selection methodology.
This autumn phase will allow local people and businesses to share ideas on how to improve neighbourhoods and workspaces, and to discuss the overall priorities of the Local Plan.
A draft version of the selection methodology has already been published on the council’s website to support early awareness and understanding ahead of the formal consultation.
Bedfordians can find more information or submit a site by visiting bedford.gov.uk/callforsites, or contact the planning policy team directly at planning.policy@bedford.gov.uk or on 01234 718070.
