Mayor’s dither and delay puts communities at risk

Bedford’s lack of Local Plan and therefore an inability to meet its housing targets have left the Borough open to speculative and unwanted development. 

Councillor Jon Abbott, Liberal Democrat planning spokesperson, called on the Mayor to explain why he had ignored planning inspectors’ advice to modify the 2040 plan back in 2023, and urged him to provide councillors with a timetable for a new Plan.

Councillor Abbott said, “If the Mayor had acted on the Inspector’s advice 18 months ago, Bedford could now be on a secure, plan-led footing. Instead, we are roughly two years behind our neighbours.”

“We currently have:

• No adopted plan and no published timetable for a new one.
• No binding infrastructure agreements to manage the impact of Universal Studios or EWR.
• A housing deficit of 2,000 units that has effectively handed a 'blank cheque' to speculative developers.

The Mayor hit the 'reset' button without a map. Every lost planning appeal and every inappropriate development approved because of our 'out-of-date' status is a direct consequence of his choices. The responsibility for this loss of local control rests squarely on the Mayor's hands."