Following the formal withdrawal of Bedford Borough Council’s 2040 Local Plan, the Council has begun work on the preparation of a new Local Plan to 2050, having published the timetable in April.

The published timetable sets out several key milestones, with initial stages of particular importance for those with land or development interests.

Call for Sites – Summer to Autumn 2026

June/July to October 2026: During this period the Council will invite submissions of potential development sites across the Borough. This is the first formal opportunity to put land forward for consideration as part of the new Local Plan.

Why early engagement matters

Under the new plan-making system, Local Plans are expected to move through defined gateway stages, which, once passed, the scope for introducing new sites to the Plan is likely to become much more limited. If you control or represent land in Bedford Borough, now is the time to engage proactively.

If you have land or property that you would like to promote for development as part of the Local Plan 2050, we’d be happy to help. Contact the planning team at Optimis Consulting so that we can assist you.