Central Bedfordshire are progressing a Full Local Plan Review in accordance with the Local Development Scheme (LDS) updated in January 2025. The LDS sets out the high-level timeframe for the development of an updated Local Plan.
Community Engagement
Over the past 12 months, Central Bedfordshire Council has been working closely with residents, town and parish councils, ward councillors, and other key stakeholders to help shape the new Local Plan. The feedback received is now being used to inform the next stage of plan-making. The first formal consultation stage—known as Regulation 18 (‘Issues and Options’)—is scheduled to take place in early 2026.
To share the outcomes of this engagement, a series of summary reports have been prepared, highlighting the main themes and issues raised. These reports are available to download from the Central Bedfordshire website.
Call for Sites
As part of the Local Plan process, the Council recently invited landowners, developers, and other interested parties to submit sites for consideration. This ‘Call for Sites’ helps identify land that could support future needs, including:
- New housing and employment opportunities
- Renewable energy projects
- Green spaces to support Biodiversity Net Gain
A total of 626 site submissions were received. These can now be viewed on the Council’s website.
Initial Assessment of Residential Sites
For sites submitted for residential use, the Council has undertaken an initial validation process. This involved removing duplicate or erroneous entries and identifying any sites with clear constraints that would justify early exclusion. Sites have been discounted for reasons including:
- Insufficient size: Sites too small to deliver at least 10 new homes, or unable to do so once absolute constraint areas (e.g. National Landscapes, SSSIs, existing allocations, planning permissions, or high flood risk zones) are excluded.
- Legal or landowner constraints: Sites submitted without landowner permission or without confirmation that the site can be developed for the proposed use.
- Poor connectivity: Sites not adjacent to existing settlements and not large enough (typically fewer than 1,000 homes) to support the infrastructure needed for a standalone development.
As a result, 174 sites have been initially discounted for residential development. These sites can be identified on the interactive map using the toggle layer function. However, these sites may still be considered for other uses, such as Gypsy and Traveller provision or employment, where relevant. Some may also be reconsidered in combination with other sites, including those in emerging Local Plans from neighbouring councils.
Next Steps: Site Assessment and the SLAA
The next stage involves a more detailed assessment of all submitted sites. This will consider a range of criteria, including:
- Proximity to existing facilities (e.g. schools, public transport, GP surgeries, green spaces)
- Flood risk
- Environmental and heritage impacts (e.g. scheduled monuments)
- Accessibility
- Land ownership
Each site will be assessed to determine whether it is suitable, available, and achievable in line with national planning policy.
Sites that meet these criteria will be included in the Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA). The SLAA will identify all sites that may have potential for development. It is important to note that inclusion in the SLAA does not guarantee that a site will be allocated in the Local Plan. The Council aims to complete the SLAA by the end of the year.
The Local Plan is expected to continue to progress with the following key milestones:
- Public and stakeholder engagement – Draft Local Plan Formal Consultation (Regulation 18): February 2026 – April 2026.
- Publication of the proposed submission (Pre-Submission) plan for representations (Regulation 19): September 2027 – October 2027.
- Submission of Plan to Secretary of State for Examination (Reg 22): February 2028
- Examination Period: March 2028 – August 2028.
- Inspector’s Report: September 2028
- Adoption: December 2028
For the purposes of decision making, the current Local Plan will remain relevant until a new Local Plan is adopted.
If you would like to know more about the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Review please contact us now for further advice.
