Project value: £4.98m
Project theme: transport
Latest update: As you may have seen, works have started on Harpur Square as part of the Town Deal regeneration plans. New paving has been laid outside of the library and Harpur Suite, the bandstands have been levelled and statues relocated to the planters to make the square a more accessible, open space, ready for a variety of events, such as concerts, festivals, markets, etc. The contractors paused the works so as not to clash with events in July, but they will be back on site shortly to continue work to upgrade the square. Once work on Harpur Square, which will consist of not only new paving but furniture upgrades, new lighting, new water supply and lifting of tree crowns, has completed, the contractor will look to start works on St Paul’s Square, due to start in 2025.
The St Paul’s Square public realm project will involve a comprehensive redevelopment of the square and Harpur Square to support a variety of outdoor events, activities and performances with the objective of improving visitor experience, increasing vibrancy and footfall and diversifying the town centre’s offer to promote Bedford as a destination.
The project will create an attractive, more accessible square by improving the public realm. This will involve permanently closing the road link at St Paul’s Square and widening the pedestrian pathways to allow greater capacity for outdoor events and promote pedestrian movement between St Paul’s Square and the Cultural Quarter and Riverside Bedford. Harpur Square will be repaved and plinths removed to create a larger and more flexible public space for events and activities.
Event infrastructure at Harpur Square will also be provided including lighting improvements and the introduction of water supply for event use. A new segregated cycleway will also be implemented to encourage active travel and additional lighting will be provided.
The two road lanes on the High Street will be maintained and the pedestrian island will be realigned at The Embankment to suit vehicle tracking movements and avoid congestion.
View the St Paul's Square project plan (PDF).