Bedford Borough Council planning applications
Data as of 5 November 2026
Bedford Borough Council decided more than 1,700 planning applications in the twelve months to 5 November 2026. It refused 22% of those it approved or refused, higher than the middle UK council (9%), and took a median of 54 days to decide one.
Look up one application
Search by reference or address on Bedford Borough Council’s own planning portal. Or ask Claude, with the PlanningLedger connector, to find it and read its officer report and decision notice (mcp.planningledger.com).
Recent major decisions
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25 September 2026 · Refused
Residential development of 16 dwellings and associated infrastructure
Land At Odell Road Odell Bedfordshire · 26/01013/MAF
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13 August 2026 · Approved
Britannia Road Car Park At Bedford Hospital South Wing Accessed Via Kings Place Bedford Bedfordshire · 25/02209/MOF
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7 August 2026 · Approved
Land At Village Farm 85 Cotton End Road Wilstead Bedford Bedfordshire MK45 3DB · 25/02560/MAR
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24 July 2026 · Refused
Land East Of Newton Lane Turvey Bedfordshire · 25/02555/MAO
Figures for Bedford Borough Council
| Applications decided | more than 1,700 |
|---|---|
| Share refusedof those approved or refused | 22%middle UK council 9% |
| Median time to a decisionfrom the valid date | 54 daysmiddle UK council 55 days |
| Householder applications refusedextensions, lofts, outbuildings | 16%of 24 decided |
| Appeals decidedin the last three years | more than 290 |
| Appeals allowedof those decided on their merits | 32%about one in three |
| Officer reports and decision notices searchable | back to 2026 |
| Local Plan policies held | 72plan adopted 2020 |
What inspectors decide appeals on
In their own words, from recent appeal decisions on Bedford Borough Council’s planning applications.
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“The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area.”
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“The main issue is the effect of the proposed development on highway safety.”
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“The main issue is the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area”
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“The main issues are: • whether or not the proposed development would be an appropriate form of development in the countryside; • the effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area; and, • the effect…”
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“The main issues are: a) whether the proposed employment use is suitable or necessary in the open countryside, b) the effect of the proposed development on highway safety, and c) the effect of the proposed development on the PRoW.”
How we count, and what each figure leaves out: methodology. The council’s own register is the record, and each application links to it.