Midland Road revamp on the cards for Bedford after council awarded £22.6m

Bedford will receive £22.6 million from the Government, following a successful bid for a Town Deal.

The projects submitted in the plan include regeneration of the Station Quarter and Midland Road, improvements to St. Paul’s Square, to town centre junctions and the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, as well as investment in Full Fibre broadband.

The Town Investment Plan also includes a scheme for funding investment in health, science and digital skills through expanding the current offer from Bedford College to allow them to offer spaces to an additional 250 learners each year.

The plan also includes a project to support the rollout of full fibre infrastructure across the urban areas of Bedford by a private provider.

Bedford MP, Mohammad Yasin, said: “This injection of sorely-needed Government funding will provide a boost to the growth and resilience of Bedford town centre, bringing about major projects, including regeneration of the Midland Road area, enhancing our existing assets whilst preserving Bedford’s unique heritage.

"Bringing in Full-Fibre broadband will enhance digital connectivity and the ambitious plan to bring new digital and scientific skills to residents through a proposed Health Science and Digital Skills Centre is extremely welcome.”

Councillor Henry Vann, portfolio holder for town centres and planning, said: “This is a fantastic win for the whole of Bedford borough. The investment that has been secured by the Bedford Town Deal Board is a testament to the well-developed and thought out projects put forward in our Town Investment Plan.

“After such a challenging year for town centres across the country, we can now look forward to seeing these projects come to life and bring meaningful, significant improvements for residents and visitors of Bedford borough.”

Samantha Laycock, chair of the Bedford Town Deal Board, said: “We’re over the moon that we’ve managed to secure £22.6 million through our Town Investment Plan. When we developed the plan, our priority was always to deliver value for money to the people of Bedford.

"It’s really encouraging to see that central government also agree that these projects are going to deliver positive outcomes for people and help unlock the potential of Bedford with a legacy for future proofing of our town.”

Bedford Town Deal projects are required to be completed by March 2026.