A plan to bring a dead village pub back to life by building four houses on the same site and injecting the profits into a big refurbishment have been reluctantly dismissed by councillors...
A village pub near Bedford cannot be turned into a house, a planning inspector has ruled. Even though the Royal George in High Street, Stagsden, was unviable from 2012 to 2015, inspector Rachel Walmsley...
In the first of a series of articles on the Oxford-Cambridge Arc (OxCam Arc), the Bedford Independent looks at the impact it could have on Bedford Borough’s economy...
“I will be unforgiving if another hurdle is placed in our way” says PCC over Greyfriars sale
Local Democracy Reporter
A “laser like focus” will be directed at a local authority in the weeks ahead over the sale and redevelopment of a former Bedfordshire police station. Planning permission was granted by Bedford Borough Council for a change of use for the Greyfriars site...
Council seeks new deal with developers to secure future of iconic airship sheds
Local Democracy Reporter
Council planners are in new talks with developers over a deal to secure the future of the iconic giant airship sheds in Cardington. Bedford Borough Council had in 2014 given permission for 592 homes to be built near the sheds at Shortstown on the understanding that a deal would...
You may be the jewel in the crown but your lorries are ‘devastating’, councillor tells science park
Local Democracy Reporter
A councillor made a passionate plea for his colleagues to vote against a plan that would “devastate” Sharnbrook. The owners of Colworth Science Park to the west of the village had applied to Bedford Borough Council to build an advanced manufacturing facility and a brand new national...
Village restaurant’s pergoda plan sparks debate on when street parking becomes a ‘nuisance’
Local Democracy Reporter
Concerned residents objected when they found that a restaurant in Wood End, near Kempston had applied to build a pergola for 40 customers. Among their concerns were that even more customers would park outside their homes in Tithe Road, to use the Cross Keys...
Office-to-flat conversion plan appeal rejected over ‘poor living standards’
Local Democracy Reporter
A planning inspector has thrown out a developer’s attempt to convert offices to flats on the basis that they would create poor living standards. Inspector Andrew Smith also rejected Homelink Properties’ argument that Bedford Borough Council had...
A Bletsoe man has been given three months to move out of his log cabin home and another month to remove it from the site after losing an enforcement appeal...
Have another go later, Bedford planners reluctantly tell shunned Riseley developers
Local Democracy Reporter
Councillors were finally convinced to reject plans for seven retirement bungalows in a village conservation area after being told they had a legal duty to consider the advice of their experts...
Councillors have controversially granted permission to an “anti-democratic” plan for 20 new homes in a village near Bedford.
A site called Hayle Field, off High Street, in Thurleigh...
400 homes for Bedford village could be a case of ‘when, not if’ inspector rules
Local Democracy Reporter
A plan for 400 homes and a new primary school on village land just outside Bedford has been binned – for the time being. A Government planning inspector says...