A list of more than 450 potential Local Plan housing sites across Central Bedfordshire, including several on the Bedford Borough border near Stewartby, Kempston Hardwick, Wixams, Wilstead, Roxton, and Little Barford, has been announced.
The locations will be reduced during the next two years to form a shortlist to be agreed for development in the local authority’s next Local Plan.
It follows a legal process known as a ‘call for sites’, in which anyone with land to develop can put this forward. 626 sites were initially proposed.
Read: Central Bedfordshire’s Local Plan earmarks more than 600 potential sites for development
Council officers have been removing any that are obvious candidates for refusal, such as plots not big enough for at least ten new homes, land in sites of special scientific interest or high flood risk areas, and land where a legal impediment to development exists.
According to CBC council leader and Independent Potton cllr Adam Zerny in a social media post, 174 sites have been removed for these reasons.
He said a council website shows where the remaining 452 sites are located. “It’s not surprising that many areas in the west and south of Central Bedfordshire have fewer plots of land put forward, as this is where there are large areas of greenbelt,” he said.
“The council has received proposals of land amounting to about 26,935 acres. There’s a massive area between Everton and Tempsford, much of which could find its way into the government’s rumoured new town.
“It’s very likely that if there’s a new town, the houses used for this won’t be included in CBC’s Local Plan numbers. The council will be analysing the sites on its longlist ahead of public consultations in 2026 and 2027.”
“Nobody would disagree we need homes for the next generation. But what we don’t want to see is our countryside and wildlife destroyed by ugly new housing developments.”
25,500 homes by 2050
CBC last had a Local Plan approved in 2021, with the government inspector stating a review had to begin within six months. The original intention was 14,800 homes locally by 2045, but this has been increased to 25,500 by 2050.
The sites are revealed on this CBC website map.
It shows clusters of potential housing around the main towns and several villages in Central Bedfordshire, with several along the Bedford Borough/Central Bedfordshire border.
The Local Plan, last adopted in 2021, sets out future strategic policies in Central Bedfordshire. It outlines areas of industrial growth and housing, transport infrastructure, retail and town centres, employment, and the economy.
The document also covers greenbelt issues and development in the countryside, policies to ensure sustainability and adapt to climate change, and planning for gypsies and travellers.
Asked about the plan at a recent full council meeting, councillor Zerny explained: “There’ll be a full public consultation eventually for the requisite amount of time.
“Residents will get all the opportunity the council must provide legally. From that perspective, this will be public and we’ll ensure people find out about it in due course.”
Bedford Borough Council’s own local plan has been in a state of flux until recently, after it was found attempts to stop it would be a huge risk to local residents.
Read: Mayor accused of “wasting taxpayers’ money” over paused Local Plan legal fees
Now, Bedord Borough’s Local Plan is at the examination stage; you can read more about that here.
By Euan Duncan, Local Democracy Reporter
and Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
