East West Rail has welcomed new powers to speed up major infrastructure projects and cut formal consultation requirements, even as Bedford residents wait until 2027 to see the final design for the controversial route through the town.
The company says the Government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Act will help deliver the Oxford to Cambridge rail link more quickly and allow “more localised targeted engagement” with communities.
But in Bedford, where East West Rail’s plans include demolishing homes and businesses around Ashburnham Road and have been repeatedly criticised for a lack of detail, some residents are likely to see the changes as weakening their formal say rather than improving it.
Read: EWR “less than fruitful” with details of rail line impact on Bedford claims mayor
‘Streamlined’ planning
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) met with ministers this week, alongside other national infrastructure bodies, to discuss how the new Act will be used to “streamline” planning for schemes such as new railways, roads, and housing.
EWR Co said the law would:
- Speed up the planning system for the Oxford to Cambridge line
- Allow “more localised targeted engagement with communities and key stakeholders”
- Remove the legal requirement to hold a statutory consultation before applying for powers to build the railway
The company is one of the first major projects to operate under the new legislation.
Will Gallagher, Chief Strategy Officer at EWR Co, said: “We had a really productive discussion about how we implement the new Planning and Infrastructure Act to maximise its benefits – both to speed up the opening of EWR by making the planning process simpler and quicker, and also to make sure local communities get high quality ongoing engagement rather than just a single statutory consultation.”
Statutory consultation scrapped
Under the new law, East West Rail is no longer required to carry out a statutory public consultation before it submits its Development Consent Order (DCO) – the formal planning application needed to build the line.
EWR Co says it will still hold a full route-wide consultation this spring as planned, but this will now be a non-statutory consultation rather than a legally required one.
Read: East West Rail says final design for Bedford proposals to be made available in 2027
It has also launched a series of “Design Update Sessions” running from now until March, where specific proposals will be discussed with local communities in smaller, topic-based events.
Despite the new “accelerated” planning rules, the company confirmed it still intends to submit its DCO in 2027, as previously stated.
Last week, EWR Co told councillors that the final design for its Bedford proposals would not be made publicly available until that DCO is submitted, meaning residents face at least another year’s wait before they can see the full plans in one place.
Design update sessions in Bedford will be as follows:
| Thursday, 12 February | 3pm-8pm | Cauldwell Community Centre, Althorpe Street, Bedford MK42 9HF |
| Saturday, 14 February | 12pm-5pm | Queens Park Community Centre, Marlborough Road, Bedford, MK40 4LF |
Local concern
The latest announcement comes after growing frustration in Bedford over the level of information available on the project’s impact.
In December, East West Rail confirmed it now plans to demolish an additional 53 homes and businesses along Ashburnham Road, including a GP surgery and the Dom Polski venue, prompting strong opposition from residents and campaigners.
Bedford Borough Council has also raised “serious concerns” about aspects of the scheme and the way information has been shared.
As previously reported, Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) said recent talks with East West Rail about its impact on Bedford had been “less than fruitful”, saying Bedford Borough Council was still pressing for clearer answers on demolitions, parking and access around Bedford station.
EWR Co insists the new planning framework will improve how it works with local communities, despite the removal of the statutory consultation requirement.
David Hughes, Chief Executive of EWR Co, said: “By streamlining processes while strengthening early, locally focused consultation, the planning reforms will help ensure that people’s voices shape the railway as it develops.
“This more responsive framework supports better decision-making, builds trust, and ultimately helps deliver the benefits of East West Rail more effectively.”
The company says its new Design Update Sessions are intended to give residents more focused opportunities to feed into specific parts of the scheme as designs evolve, alongside the wider spring consultation.
New economic “corridor”
The Government is promoting East West Rail as a key part of a new economic “corridor” between Oxford and Cambridge, running through Milton Keynes and Bedford.
Supporters say the project will:
- Improve connectivity between major employment and research centres
- Support new housing and jobs across the region
- Provide more sustainable travel options
However, in Bedford, the railway has become one of the most contentious local issues in recent years, with concerns focused on:
- Demolition of homes and local businesses near Bedford station
- The impact of extra railway infrastructure on residential streets
- Uncertainty for residents who still do not know exactly how they will be affected
With the final design not due to be published until 2027 and consultations now formally “non-statutory”, many campaigners are likely to scrutinise how far the new, more flexible process will genuinely reflect local views.
Further details of the spring ‘non-statutory’ consultation and future Design Update Sessions are expected in the coming weeks.
