Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Progress Update – September 2026

Central Bedfordshire Council is continuing work on its new Local Plan 2050 under the new national plan-making system introduced earlier this year.

The Council has now completed its initial scoping consultation and consultation on sites submitted for possible development. The Submitted Sites consultation closed in August 2026, with the Council receiving more than 30,000 responses.

The next key milestone is Gateway 1 on 23 October 2026, followed by the next formal consultation on the emerging Local Plan from 30 November 2026 to 18 January 2027.

Despite changes to the plan-making process and timetable, the Council is still aiming to adopt the new Local Plan by December 2028.

The Local Plan will guide housing, employment, infrastructure and other development across Central Bedfordshire up to 2050.

Central Bedfordshire Local Plan timetable and update (2026–2028)

The Government introduced a new approach to Local Plan preparation in 2026, including three formal consultation stages and a series of Gateway assessments.

Central Bedfordshire Council has adjusted its programme to reflect these requirements. Work on the Local Plan is continuing, with the following key stages now anticipated.

Updated Local Plan timetable

The ongoing key stages in preparing the new Central Bedfordshire Local Plan are expected to be:

23 October 2026 – Gateway 1
The Council will publish a self-assessment confirming that the necessary timetable, consultation, notice and project plan are in place. Following Gateway 1, the Council will have 30 months to prepare and adopt the Local Plan.

30 November 2026 to 18 January 2027 – Regulation 23 consultation
This six-week formal consultation will consider the proposed content and evidence for the Local Plan, including the initial vision and objectives, growth strategy, proposed local policy topics and a summary of the evidence supporting the Plan.

31 March 2027 – Gateway 2
A formal review with a planning inspector to ensure the emerging Local Plan and supporting evidence align with national planning policy and guidance.

27 October to 22 December 2027 – Regulation 27 consultation (8 weeks)
Consultation on the final draft version of the Local Plan, including proposed site allocations for housing, employment and other development.

5 April 2028 – Gateway 3
An external assessment to confirm that the plan meets planning regulations and the “tests of soundness” before it can be formally submitted for examination.

1 June 2028 – Submission
The Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.

June to November 2028 – Examination
A planning inspector will conduct an independent examination of the Local Plan.

December 2028 – Adoption
The council aims to formally adopt the new Local Plan, which will then become the statutory development plan for Central Bedfordshire.

What this means for landowners, developers and residents

The new Local Plan is now moving into an important stage. The Council is assessing the sites put forward for development and reviewing the substantial number of representations received during the Submitted Sites consultation.

The Regulation 23 consultation beginning on 30 November 2026 will provide the next formal opportunity to comment on the emerging strategy and proposed content of the Plan. Proposed site allocations are expected to become clearer at the later Regulation 27 stage in 2027.

If you are promoting land for development in Central Bedfordshire and would like advice on the Local Plan process or site promotion strategy, please contact us.

We will continue to monitor progress on the preparation of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan and provide further updates as the process moves forward.