Central Bedfordshire Council – Local Plan Consultation

Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) is undertaking a consultation on their new local plan.

What is a Local Plan?

Local Plans are a statutory requirement and are prepared by local planning authorities. They set out a vision for development in the area, including homes and jobs.

Local Plans have an economic role (business and infrastructure), a social role (building strong communities) and an environmental role (protection of landscapes, wildlife, heritage and sustainability).

What happens if a Local Authority doesn’t have a Local Plan in place?

Councils without a Local Plan in place are open to unplanned or speculative development. They have less control over how many houses are built, where they are built and the provision of infrastructure.

CPRE Bedfordshire says get involved!

CPRE Bedfordshire recognises Local Plans as the cornerstone of the planning system. We strongly encourage local residents to take the time to read the information on the CBC website and have their say via the online engagement tool.

CBC’s six themes

CBC have identified six themes as their starting point for the consultation.

• Access to outstanding new or improved green space and nature
• Jobs that are easy to get to
• High-quality, well-designed homes for every stage of life
• Excellent transport options, including walking and cycling
• Great local facilities such as roads, schools, shops, and parks
• Respecting and enhancing the unique character of our towns and villages

What happens when

The Local Plan that will set out how Central Bedfordshire will grow, up to 2050. The plan is not expected to be finalised until 2028 so there is a long process of drafting and consultations. This drafting will follow a new procedure so we don’t necessarily know the breadth of each stage.

The Council has already produced a list of possible sites for development which is reviewed for suitability.

Key dates – Get involved

There are various stages in the development of a Local Plan. Some involve public consulation:

6th May  – 3rd June 2026: Start of the formal consultation – this consultation has now closed

Asking people to complete a survey to confirm that the right themes have been included. The online survey also asks people to prioritise different aspects under each of the themes, for example where should new homes and businesses be located; in vacant spaces in towns and villages (brownfield), or on the edges of towns or villages?

Consultation on submitted sites

6th July – 17th August 2026:

This is when residents, parish and town councils and any other stakeholders can comment on sites that have been identified with potential in the call for sites. This is a non-statutory stage that the Council has decided to include to involve stakeholder engagement.

Next stage:

26th August – publication of self‑assessment summary

A check that everything is in place to begin the formal preparation of the plan. From this point the Council has 30 months to complete and adopt the Plan.

30th November 2026 – 18th January 2027:  Start of second formal consultation

Setting out the content in terms of proposed vision, aims and objectives, and a summary of the policy topics.

Autumn 2027 – public consultation on draft plan and proposed sites of development

More detail can be found on the Council website.

Central Bedfordshire Council – new Local Plan