New housing in Bedford Borough Council
We read Bedford Borough Council's planning register every day. We hold 7,349 of its planning applications going back to 2022, and 147 of those made in the last 12 months are for new homes.
It delivered 94% of the homes it needed in the 2025 Housing Delivery Test, below 95%, so it must publish an action plan to speed up delivery.
Key facts
- Local Plan
- Not recorded yet.
- Five-year housing land supply
- Not recorded yet.
- Housing Delivery Test
- 94% (2025): action plan
- Local Plan sites we hold
- None loaded yet.
- Planning applications we hold
- 7,349
Applications for new homes, by year
Applications we have identified as being for new homes, by the year they were made. Approved and refused count those decided so far.
| Year | Applications | Approved | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 134 | 44 | 23 |
| 2025 | 96 | 57 | 29 |
| 2024 | 94 | 60 | 26 |
| 2023 | 93 | 46 | 34 |
| 2022 | 52 | 13 | 29 |
The largest housing schemes of the last three years
| Homes | Site | Status | Made |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,400 | Land At Little Barford Bedfordshire Request for Scoping Opinion in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (EIA) Regulations 2017 in respect of the development of up to 4400 dwellings including a proportion of age restricted homes, assisted living… 25/00392/EIASCP | Decided | 24 Feb 2025 |
| 2,800 | Land East Of Bedford Road Wixams Bedfordshire Request Under Regulation 15 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended), for a Scoping opinion in respect of proposed residential-led development, comprising up to… 26/01633/EIASCP | Decided | 24 Aug 2026 |
| 2,200 | Rushden East Urban Extension Liberty Way Rushden Northamptonshire (This application is not being determined by Bedford Borough Council. Please contact the applicant for details or to make comments) Outline Planning Application for a Sustainable Urban Extension comprising residential… 23/02591/LPA | Decided | 24 Nov 2023 |
| 1,000 | Land At Former Gas Works Site Ford End Road Bedford Bedfordshire Request for Environmental Screening Opinion in respect of redevelopment of the Former Gasholders Site to provide up to 1,000 dwellings (Use Class C3), with ancillary retail/commercial floorspace along Ford End Road and… 26/00867/EIASCR | Approved | 7 May 2026 |
| 1,000 | Stewartby Brickworks Broadmead Road Stewartby Bedfordshire Under Regulation 15 of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended), request for a Scoping opinion, to agree the content of an Environmental Statement (ES) Addendum to… 26/00332/EIASCP | Decided | 19 Feb 2026 |
| 1,000 | Bedford Borough Council Borough Hall Cauldwell Street Bedford MK42 9AP Adjacent Parish Consultation from BBC - Request for Scoping Opinion in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (EIA) Regulations 2017 prior to the submission of a proposed hybrid application: (Mixed use… 25/01966/COA | Awaiting decision | 25 Sept 2025 |
| 1,000 | Land To The North Of Bedford Road Willington Bedfordshire Request for Scoping Opinion in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (EIA) Regulations 2017 prior to the submission of a proposed hybrid application: (Mixed use development comprising up to 1,000 dwellings; a 2… 25/01839/EIASCP | Decided | 16 Sept 2025 |
| 570 | Land North Of Clapham Between Highbury Grove And The Baulk/Green Lane Clapham Bedfordshire EIA Scoping Opinion request under Regulation 15 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended), in respect of the erection of up to 570 dwellings, including affordable… 26/01669/EIASCP | Awaiting decision | 27 Aug 2026 |
| 500 | Millfield End Land To The West Of Bedford Road Great Barford Bedfordshire Outline application with all matters reserved except access for Erection of up to 500 dwellings, and all necessary supporting infrastructure including the construction of new access on to Bedford Road, internal access… 24/02391/MAO | Decided | 18 Dec 2024 |
| 430 | Land South Of Wixams Wixams Bedfordshire Request for Screening Opinion in respect of proposed residential development of up to 430 homes with new points of access, SuDS, green infrastructure, landscaping and woodland planting, biodiversity enhancements, and… 24/01656/EIASCR | Approved | 27 Aug 2024 |
Towns and villages
See every field round the edge of a town or village, scored for how likely it is to be built on.
- Backnoe End
- Bedford
- Box End
- Bromham (Bedford)
- Cardington
- Carlton (Bedford)
- Clapham (Bedford)
- Cople
- Cotton End
- Felmersham
- Great Barford
- Great Denham
- Harrold
- Kempston
- Kempston Hardwick
- Keysoe Row
- Little Staughton
- Milton Ernest
- Oakley (Bedford)
- Odell
- Pavenham
- Podington
- Riseley (Bedford)
- Roxton
- Salph End
- Sharnbrook
- Shortstown
- Stagsden
- Stevington
- Stewartby
- Turvey
- Upper Dean
- Willington (Bedford)
- Wilstead
- Wixams
- Wootton (Bedford)
- Workhouse End
- Wyboston
- Wymington
Where this comes from
- Planning applications: Bedford Borough Council's online planning register, last read 14 Nov 2026.
- Housing Delivery Test: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
- How fields are scored: how the score works.