Bedford Town Centre Plan to be discussed at Council's Executive next week

The Bedford Town Centre Plan sets out a vision, built on Bedford being a great place to live, work, shop, learn and explore.

Following consultation in 2019, which received over 2000 responses, ideas from Bedford Borough residents and beyond have contributed to the plan.

Respondents to the consultation overwhelmingly highlighted the river as their favourite aspect of the town centre, as well as many of Bedford’s independent shops and were keen to see a greater diversity of provision in the town centre including more opportunities for leisure activities.

Local suggestions have been developed into actions in the plan and these have been brought together in six distinct categories: strategic, regulatory (planning), promotion, events and leisure, environment, and connectivity.

Plans from these categories include:

- improving the local environment through the implementation of the High Street Heritage Action Zone

- reforming planning policy to promote a wider range of uses of property in the town centre

- improving boundary signage to highlight the town centre offering

- developing new regeneration projects

- supporting connectivity and in particular improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, new loading bays for shoppers and more

- creating public performance spaces and support for more community events.

Some of this work is already underway with the support of the Mayor’s Town Centre Priority Fund.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the town centre, with all but essential businesses closing for three months.

This change in circumstances has been reflected in the Town Centre Plan and the plan will help to aid the recovery.

Cllr Henry Vann, portfolio holder for town centres and planning said: “Bedford’s independent businesses, communities, the Great Ouse and beautiful embankment, thriving events, and rich, diverse, history are powerful assets that this plan aims to celebrate and enhance.

“This dedicated Town Centre Plan brings together all the amazing work going on and will help drive much of this work forward. It will help celebrate our vibrant and diverse communities and our historic town, maximising and displaying Bedford unique offer.

“Retail alone is not the future of town centres and to support our thriving local entrepreneurs we will continue to work hard to encourage a wider and more diverse offer in our town centre.

“Throughout lockdown and beyond we continue to support our town centre for a more prosperous, thriving Bedford.

“A huge thank you to the thousands of people who responded to our consultation.”