Hearing sessions

The hearing sessions of the Examination of the Bedford Local Plan will be held in two blocks and will open at 12 midday on Monday 12 June 2023.

All the hearing sessions in Block 1, with the exception of Matter 5, and the first week of Block 2 will be held in person at Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP.

Live stream sessions

The hearing sessions for Matter 5 Week 1 Block 1 (on 15 June 2023) were virtual hearing sessions. These sessions were live streamed and can be viewed on the Council’s You Tube channel. Once on our YouTube channel landing page, please click on the ‘live’ tab. 

The hearing sessions in Week 2 of Block 2 will also be virtual hearing sessions and can be accessed by using the following links:

Matter and live stream link (where applicable)

Date /Time

Matter 10 Employment land allocations 

Matter 11 Town Centres and retail 

Examination by submitted written representations – no hearing sessions to take place.

Matter 12 Borough Wide Housing Development Management Policies

Tuesday 19 September 2023 at 10am

Matter 12 Borough Wide Housing Development Management Policies

Tuesday 19 September 2023 at 2pm

Matter 13 - Other Borough wide development management policies

Wednesday 20 September 2023 at10am

Reserve session – if needed

Wednesday 20 September 2023 at 2pm

Matter 15 Delivery and Monitoring

Thursday 21 September 2023 at 10am

Wrap up and next steps

Thursday 21 September 2023 at 12.35pm

Reserve session if needed

Friday 22 September 2023 at 10am

Please note, the in-person sessions will not be recorded and therefore they will not be available to be listened to at a later date. Please see the Council’s statement on this.

The hearing sessions are public meetings and there is no need to register if you would like to attend to listen to the discussions.

Privacy information:

If you have any queries about the examination please contact the Programme Officer:

Email: louise@poservices.co.uk
Tel: 07789 486419

Block 1 hearing sessions   

Week 1: Monday 12 June to Friday 16 June.

Week 2: Monday 19 June to Friday 23 June.

Block 2 hearing sessions 

Week 3: Monday 11 September to Friday 15 September. 

Week 4: Monday 18 September to Friday 22 September.

Draft programme and participants

Hearing sessions documents