This page assists with planning enquiries and how to obtain a response from planning. This advice service does not provide planning permission or lawfully confirm something is or not permitted development.
Important note: To apply for planning permission or lawful development certificates go to www.bedford.gov.uk/planningforms and www.bedford.gov.uk/planningformsinfo for further details.
Before you complete the form, it is important to read each of the steps as they contain information and self-service links.
You may want to appoint a professional (agent) to act on your behalf, this can be anyone that you wish to appoint, for example a builder, architect, planning consultant, loft company or someone familiar with the planning process. If you use an agent for your planning advice request all correspondence and enquiries will be with your agent, so please contact them if you have any queries.
Check the interactive planning map for the address. We cannot advise on matters not in the Bedford Borough area. You can move round the map to pinpoint the site, identify planning history and some planning constraints for example conservation areas, protected trees etc. Please refer to the how to guides for help with using the map and other planning matters.
Permitted development allows some development to be carried out without the need to apply for planning permission. This step explains what you need to do for confirmation from planning and provides some self-service links.
For residential properties and shops check the interactive guides on the planning portal for information about permitted development. See also the government's Permitted development rights for householders technical guidance (PDF).
Useful links:
For confirmation from planning that something, is or is not permitted development, you must apply as follows:
The links above will take you straight to our planning applications submissions page. It is important to read the application information page which contains: guidance on what to submit, the application process, more detail about householder development / lawful development certificates and what you need to supply and apply for.
Our How to guides provide assistance with planning matters. For example:
The Council is committed to making sure that development in Bedford is delivered to the highest standard and that new proposals exhibit high quality design. To help make sure that this aspiration is fulfilled ,we have partnered with Greater Cambridge Shared Planning to provide a Design Review Service.
The Bedford Design Review Panel is a sub-set of the Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel and uses the themes in the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth (Community, Character, Connectivity and Climate) as a framework to enable the delivery of high quality places which are consistent with the ten characteristics of places in the National Model Design Guide.
This independent group of industry specialists can improve the quality of your design and strengthen your planning application. Find out more about the Bedford Design Service and how to apply.
Important - before completing the form you must read the following information:
Fees and exemptions list (PDF) - this explains how the service operates, the fees and any exemptions. This document changes on 1 January each year.
This advice service does not provide planning permission or lawfully confirm something is or not permitted development or if you need planning permission. Preapp advice is informal advice only, not legally binding, only based on what you have supplied and is a way of obtaining advice on a scheme of development prior to the submission of an application. If you wish to submit a planning application or a lawful development certificate go to www.bedford.gov.uk/planningforms and www.bedford.gov.uk/planningformsinfo for more details.
Documents to be submitted with the request: You must supply an Ordnance Survey (to scale) and location plan with the site outlined in red (this must not be a screenshot, photo or a copy from any website).
Planning can only respond based on the information you supply and cannot design the scheme for you, therefore you must provide as much detail as possible such as the parameters of the development, design etc that you want us to consider and advise on. If you are using an agent all correspondence will be with them. To find out more about the planning process please see www.bedford.gov.uk/planning-applicants-agents.
Please ensure the description of the development is clear and detailed on the form, failure to do so will result in the request being invalidated.
Personal data and release of information: For details on personal data please see the privacy notice on the e-form and the details on www.bedford.gov.uk/planningpersonaldata. Please also note pre-application documentation can be released under EIR and FOI regulations.
Request for pre-application and other planning advice
The e-form will quote the relevant fee, accept payment, and you can attach relevant documentation.
You can also request a paper form: Request for pre-application advice form (PDF)
Other payment methods:
The fees and exemptions document in step 4 above, explains when a Planning Performance Agreement is required for certain types of major development instead of a Preapp enquiry.
Go to www.bedford.gov.uk/planningPPA to find out more.
The minerals and waste planning service is provided by a team based at Central Bedfordshire Council. All minerals and waste related enquiries should be sent to: MWapplications@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
See full details of the charging scheme: