9 November 2026

Home News Politics Bedford Borough Council Planning

Planning

All the latest planning news from across Bedford Borough. Everything you need to keep you up to date with what’s happening in Bedford Borough on your mobile or desktop via the Bedford Independent.

The Bedford Independent was founded to provide the people of Bedford Borough with a modern news desk that would give them easy access to genuine and unbiased Bedford news. We are independent in ownership and opinion.

Our mission is to inform and inspire the people of Bedford. To do this we will work hard to bring them the news that matters to them from our town centre to the most rural of the Borough’s villages.

Our editorial team are NCTJ trained and follows a standards code set out by the independent press regulator IMPRESS Standards.

Calls for “destructive and unnecessary” local plan to be paused after national planning policy change

Bedford's Local Plan 2040 has become the subject of controversy with less than a week until local elections, with Conservative Councillors calling on Bedford Borough's elected mayor...

New school raises road safety concerns in Wixams

Road safety concerns for a new Wixams school have been raised by councillors. Plans for a new primary school in Village 3, with four classes for each year group, were debated at a...

Pub’s future in jeopardy if plans for shop and flats are approved

A “valued community asset” could be lost if plans to convert a Bedford pub to a shop and flats is granted planning permission. A renewed application to convert the Fox & Hounds on Goldington Road to homes ...

Three drive-thru restaurants and a supermarket among plans for addition to Kempston retail park

More drive-thrus and another supermarket could be coming to Kempston following a ‘screening opinion’ application submitted to Bedford Borough Council. The application...

Councils “held to ransom” over Wixams school places as 42 houses given planning permission

Two Bedfordshire local authorities “have been held to ransom for millions of pounds” over providing enough school places to cater for the Wixams development, according to a local councillor.

Plans submitted to convert Poets area care home into 13 affordable homes

Thirteen affordable homes could become available in Bedford’s Poets if plans to convert a care home for older people are approved... An application to change the use of...

Planning application for three-bed children’s home in Wootton

Plans to convert a house in Wootton to a children’s home have been submitted to Bedford Borough Council. The applicant – who does not currently own the property...

Plans submitted for “much needed” affordable homes at Bedford Heights

The planning application for a "much needed" project to provide 36 affordable one-bedroom apartments in Brickhill has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council. The project is being...

Plans revealed for 400 new Elstow homes

Plans for up to 400 new homes in Elstow are in the pipeline as an application for a ‘screening opinion’ has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council. Before submitting a planning...

Council gives unanimous backing to unfair estate management fees campaign

Bedford Borough councillors have voted unanimously in support of a motion calling on the government to give local authorities powers to support residents in taking...