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Planning Town and Country

The Planning Service provides information on planning applications (including discharge of condition applications), appeals, enforcement, conservation areas, listed buildings, tree preservation orders and policy documents.

 

To view associated documents, please click here.

 

Latest Planning Headlines

Important Information on Householder Permitted Development

(list of things you can build without the need to submit a planning application)

PLEASE BEAR THIS IN MIND WHEN CONSIDERING YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENTS.

August 2010 saw Central Government issue further and much more detailed guidance on how Local Planning Authorities and members of the public should interpret the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No.2) (England) Order 2008. The following link takes you to the new publication entitled “Permitted Development for Householders – Technical Guidance”  http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/100806_PDforhouseholders_TechnicalGuidance.pdf . The guidance given is an improvement on anything we had before but still leaves some questions unanswered and does vary from Bedford Borough Council’s previous interpretation in a few instances. As was the case previously, for a definitive answer on the need for a planning application you can apply to the Planning Office at the Town Hall for a Certificate of Lawful Development or for further informal guidance you can contact our Planning Enquiries Officer between 8.45am and 12.30pm Mon-Fri (Tel 01234 221798).

 

Resource Recovery Facility near Stewartby

Covanta has submitted an application for a Resource Recovery Facility at Rookery South Pit near Stewartby. For more information on this application, please visit their website at www.covantaenergy.co.uk/site/rookerysouth

 

Allocations and Designations Draft Plan Consultation

The consultation on the Allocations and Designations Draft Plan has now finished. Click here for more information on the Plan

 

The Proposed Airfield Windfarm, Podington

The Council have been notified that NUON (UK) LTD have lodged a legal challenge to the High Court against the Inspector's decision to dismiss their appeal.

Particulars of the claim can be downloaded here.

 

The Planning Web Pages

The Planning web pages give information and detail on each area of the Planning Service provided by Bedford Borough Council. Broadly, the Planning Service is provided by three teams. To find out more about the teams and the services they provide, please click on the links below:

 

You can contact the teams by email at planning@bedford.gov.uk, by writing to Planning Services, Town Hall, St Paul’s Square, Bedford, MK40 1SJ or by telephoning 01234 267422.

 

Planning Applications

Most new development requires planning permission. The basic rule is that planning permission is needed for what the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 defines as ‘development’. For further information on Planning Applications, please click here.

We are currently in the process of scanning various historic planning files. For more information, please click here.

 

Public Access

To track an application, conduct a History search or find planning application numbers please use our Planning Public Access Portal website where you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions before proceeding.

 

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee convenes every three weeks to discuss relevant issues to do with Planning in the borough. Please click here to view the Planning Committee Agendas, Reports and Minutes for the current financial year.

Please click her to view past Agendas, Reports and Minutes and select the year you wish to view. Alternatively Committee papers can be reviewed at the Planning Reception during office hours.

 

Right to Speak Scheme

You can apply to speak to the Planning Committee if you wish to object to a planning application. For more information on the Rights to Speak Scheme, please click here.

 

Planning Service Plans

Click on  the documents below to view the Planning Department’s Service Plans.

 

Planning Service Plan 2004-9 (April 2008) (298 kb)

Half Yearly Planning Service Plan (April to December 2008) (90 kb)

 

Duty Officer

The Duty Officer deals with all general/pre-application enquiries between 8:45 and 12:30 Monday to Friday. The Duty Officer can be contacted on 01234 221798 or emailed at planning@bedford.gov.uk. It is useful to provide the Duty Officer with as many details as possible to speed up our response, please especially provide the duty officer with the property address concerned. Calls in relation to a current/determined application will be transferred to the relevant case officer.

 

Useful Planning Terms

Click here to view useful planning terms

Don't Miss

Here you will find information on environmental and planning issues. This section provides a wealth of information including details on how to make or enquire about a planning application, rubbish, waste and recycling information.