For other important planning pages please click on the related pages link in the Page Contents menu.
This page assists with planning enquiries and how to obtain a response from planning.
Before you complete the form, it is important to read each of the steps as they contain information and self-service links.
- Step 2 explains about permitted development
- Step 3 provides more information about whether your development needs planning permission and details of the Bedford Design Review Service
- Step 4 explains how the Preapp service works, what is included in the service, the fees and what you need to provide.
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.
Step 1: Check the site for planning history, planning constraints and whether it is part of Bedford Borough
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.
Step 2: Are the works permitted development?
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:
- Cladding and render on residential properties (PDF)
- Dropped kerbs
- Electric car charging points
- Householder development in conservation areas (PDF)
- Residential solar panel enquiries (including the Solar Together initiative)
- All HMOs in Bedford and Kempston require planning permission as an Article 4 directive has removed permitted development rights. See more about HMOs and planning law.
- Schools, colleges, universities and hospitals
- How to check for permitted development and checking if permitted development rights have been removed (PDF)
For confirmation from planning that something, is or is not permitted development, you must apply as follows:
- submit a lawful development certificate proposed (LDP) if the development you are proposing has not been carried out (form 15).
- submit a lawful development certificate existing (LDE) if the development you are proposing has already been carried out (form 14)
- You can also apply for planning permission or prior notifications
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.
Step 3: Finding planning guidance online and information on the Bedford Design Review Service
- Listed buildings and conservation areas including the conservation area maps
- Protected trees: subject to a Tree Preservation Order or in a conservation area
- Heritage statements and when they are required
- Shopfronts and advertisements in conservation areas (PDF)
- A guide to advertisement consent
- Residential Extensions, New Dwellings and Small Infill Developments (2000)
- Hedgerow legislation
- High hedge complaints
Our How to guides provide assistance with planning matters. For example:
- how to find use classes of buildings / land
- how to amend planning applications (Guide 6)
- how to discharge conditions
- how to find applications and documents
Bedford Design Review Service
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.
Step 4: Submit a planning enquiry for a response from planning
Important: before completing the form please read this information:
Fees and exemptions list (PDF) - this details how the service operates, the fees and any exemptions. This document changes on 1 January each year.
Documents to be submitted with the request: You must supply an Ordnance Survey, to scale, 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.
Important note: For permitted development queries as explained in Step 2 above, please submit a lawful development certificate not a request for Preapp advice which is informal only, not legally binding and only based on what you have supplied. Preapp advice would therefore not be sufficient to confirm the development is permitted development / does not need planning permission and you would still be required to submit a lawful development certificate to provide legal certainty.
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:
- Telephone on 01234 718068 during business hours detailed here.
- Cheque to Bedford Borough Council quoting on the back the site address or e-form number provided after you submit.
Step 5: Planning Performance Agreements (PPA)
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.
Archaeology advice
Minerals and waste pre-application enquiries
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:
- Minerals and Waste pre-application advice form (PDF)
- Minerals and Waste pre-application guidance notes (PDF)