A long-awaited GP surgery for Wixams could take a step forward next week when Bedford Borough Council’s executive considers whether to approve a business case and £5.5m of funding for the scheme.
The report going to the executive meeting on 10 December, says Wixams, Wilstead and nearby villages do not have on-site primary care provision, leaving residents travelling to other parts of the county for GP appointments.
The report says a purpose-built surgery is now “critical” to meet local need.
Read: Still no timeframe for Wixams GP surgery as council and health authority discuss delivery
The proposed facility would be built in the new town centre on Loverose Way and is estimated to cost £5.45m, based on a 911sqm building with 50 parking spaces.
A feasibility study now underway is expected to confirm updated costs early next year.
Funding is expected to come from CIL contributions (£4.285m), around £600,000 from the NHS Integrated Care Board, and £560,000 in S106 health funding currently held by Central Bedfordshire Council, which would need to be transferred.
A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge levied by local authorities on most new developments to fund local infrastructure projects such as schools, transport, and green spaces.
Section 106 (S106) agreements are legal agreements under which developers contribute funds to local authorities to offset the impact of new developments.
2027 construction
Looking ahead to the discussion next week, Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson (Conservative) told the Bedford Independent, “It has taken us far too long to even get to this stage, so I’m grateful to the leadership of Bedford Borough Council for their ongoing hard work to get us to this point.
“There are lots of hurdles still to overcome and I will continue to work closely with our local leaders and by raising the GP surgery in Parliament, with the continued ongoing uncertainty over NHS revenue funding.
“With the Government pushing a newly expanded ICB on us, we must ensure they step up and listen to local communities in Mid Bedfordshire, such as Wixams, to prioritise the essential infrastructure needed for our expanding communities.”
If approved, the project would move into detailed design and planning stages in 2026, with construction scheduled from early 2027 to autumn 2028. The surgery could open in early 2029.
However, the report warns of risks, including rising building costs, uncertainty over NHS revenue funding, and the need to maintain pressure on the developer to deliver the scheme on time.
The council says it will publish a further, more detailed business case once updated costs are available.
The Executive Meeting starts at 18:30 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. More details can be found on the council’s website.
By John Guinn,
Local Democracy Reporter
Additional reporting by
Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
