The Greensand Ridge offers sweeping vistas over the Forest of Marston Vale, a community forest in Bedfordshire. Once a brickmaking hub, the area now features lakes formed from old clay pits. The Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility processes waste and generates electricity. In addition Universal Studios is set to open its first European theme park in Bedfordshire, on the site of the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks beside the A421. Scheduled to open in 2031, this major development is expected to create around 28,000 jobs and bring significant economic benefits to the region. This will complement the picturesque views of Marston Vale, enhancing the area’s appeal to both locals and visitors.
Planning in Bedfordshire is administered by three unitary authorities: Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, after Bedfordshire County Council was abolished in 2009.
The current Strategic Planning position in Bedfordshire is as follows:
Bedford Borough
The Local Plan 2030 was adopted in January 2020 and sets out how much growth there should be in the borough (housing, jobs and associated infrastructure) up to 2030 and where it should take place. In some settlements the Council is now looking to Neighbourhood Plans to allocate housing sites, generally in and around the defined Settlement Policy Area boundaries.
The Bedford Borough Allocations and Designations Local Plan was adopted in July 2013 and covers the period until 2021. The Plan identifies sites for development to meet the Council’s needs to 2021.
A number of other supplementary documents form the basis for decision making when planning applications are submitted to the council. A full list can be viewed here.
The draft Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 was submitted to the Secretary of State in January 2023. Subsequent to the Independent Examination the Inspectors Post Hearing Letter raised fundamental concerns about the soundness of the plan. At the full Council meeting on 8th October 2025 Councillors voted to withdraw the Local Plan from examination. The Council’s formal letter to the Inspector confirming this can be viewed in the Examination Documents at ED102. The withdrawal of the Local Plan from examination signifies the closure of the examination. The Council will now begin work on a new Local Plan to 2046.
Central Bedfordshire
The Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015 to 2035 was formally adopted in July 2021. The adopted Local Plan is available on the Council’s website and carries full weight in the determination of planning applications.
Central Bedfordshire Council is progressing a Full Local Plan Review in line with its updated Local Development Scheme (January 2025), with the first formal consultation (Regulation 18 – Issues and Options) scheduled for early 2026. Over the past year, the Council has engaged with communities and stakeholders to shape the plan, and summary reports of this engagement are now available. A recent ‘Call for Sites’ yielded 626 submissions for potential development, including housing, employment, and green infrastructure. An initial assessment has discounted 174 residential sites due to constraints such as size, ownership, or poor connectivity. The next phase involves detailed site assessments as part of the Strategic Land Availability Assessment (SLAA).
Luton Borough
The adopted Luton Local Plan (2011-31) is the strategic document setting out the vision, objectives and spatial planning strategy for the whole of Luton Borough Council’s area for the period up to 2031. More details can be viewed here.
Luton Council is actively progressing its new Local Plan. A public consultation on the Issues and Options stage, including a community involvement paper and supporting documents, closed in February 2025. This was part of the early preparation phase for the new plan. Additionally, the Council conducted a Call for Sites from December 2024 to February 2025 and opened a second six-week window through May and into June 2025 to allow further land and property submissions for potential development. These submissions will help shape the future land use strategy for housing, employment, and green infrastructure in the borough. The Regulation 18 Consultation – Draft Plan is expected to be published during 2026. The Councils website page will continue to be updated as the Plan progresses.
Neighbourhood Plans
There are also a number of made Neighbourhood Plans in Bedfordshire. These form an integral part of the statutory development plan and significant weight is attached to their policies in the determination of planning applications.
For further advice or to find out how your property fits into this framework for planning in Bedfordshire please contact us.
