Investment Zones

Bedford Borough Council has been invited by the government to express an interest in their recently proposed programme of "Investment Zones".

The government's proposals have yet to be fully set out, but the Council has agreed to move to the next stage of the process, which will be to look at two specific areas of the Borough to see if there would be any benefit in them becoming Investment Zones.

The two areas are: within Bedford around the Bedford Midland and St John's railway stations; and at Pear Tree Farm at the junction of the A421 and the A6.

At present, there are no firm proposals for either of these sites, and Mayor Dave Hodgson has told the government that the Council will need firm guarantees on environmental matters, affordable housing and the threshold for non-domestic rate income before Bedford Borough could agree to become involved.

The government is expected to respond later in the autumn.