This notice confirms that the preparation of the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 has commenced.
Scope of the plan
The new Bedford Borough Local Plan will establish a long‑term framework to guide the future location, scale and design of new development across the borough up to 2050.
The area the plan will cover
The Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 will apply to the entire administrative area of the borough of Bedford. A map showing the borough boundary is included below.
Date of publication
17 April 2026.
Where stakeholders can find the local plan timetable
Hard copies of this notice and the timetable will also be made available at the Bedford Borough Hub (2 Horne Lane, Bedford) and the borough’s libraries during normal office hours.
In addition to this website, hard copies of this notice and the timetable will also be made available during normal office hours at:
- Bedford Borough Hub (2 Horne Lane, Bedford) - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am-5pm. Wednesday 10am-5pm.
- Bedford Borough libraries - see your local library for opening times.
Proposed date to commence plan preparation
We expect to begin our first consultation on the scope of the new Bedford Borough Local Plan in September 2026. The consultation will last six weeks, ending in October 2026.
Between June/July and October 2026, we gather information on potential development opportunities from landowners, developers and other interested parties through the call for sites exercise.
We aim to complete the gateway 1 assessment on or before 30 April 2027, which will confirm whether the work completed to date is sufficient to proceed to the formal stages of the new planning system. Subject to this, the 30-month plan preparation period is expected to commence afterwards.
- You can also view this notice as a document - Notice of commencement of the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 (PDF).