Have your say on submitted sites as part of Central Bedfordshire’s new Local Plan

Leighton Buzzard News

Have your say on submitted sites as part of Central Bedfordshire’s new Local Plan

Central Bedfordshire Council is inviting residents, businesses and organisations to comment on sites that have been put forward for possible inclusion in the new Local Plan.

The new Local Plan will help shape how Central Bedfordshire grows up to 2050. It will set out how the area can meet future needs for homes, jobs and infrastructure, while creating and maintaining great places to live, protecting the countryside, green spaces, historic places and the character of local communities.

The Government requires councils to identify enough land for new homes, jobs and infrastructure to meet local need. Without an up-to-date Local Plan, development is more likely to happen in places the council would consider less suitable, with less local control over where it goes.

Last year, the council invited landowners, developers and others to put forward sites that they thought had potential for future development through a call for sites. The council looked first at previously developed land, but as there were not enough suitable sites identified in that category, other sites were also put forward. The council has also carried out its own search for additional sites that may need to be considered as part of preparing the Local Plan.

Putting a site forward does not mean it will be included in the Local Plan or that any decision has been made about it. There is a detailed process that we must go through to determine which sites might be suitable for allocation in the plan.

As part of that process, all sites will need to be carefully assessed. This will include looking at a wide range of evidence, such as flood risk, the impact on historic features, access to services, and whether places can be reached by walking, cycling or public transport rather than relying mainly on the car. This must take into account national policies and guidance.

The council also wants to hear residents’ views on the sites that have been submitted, including any local concerns about particular sites and the reasons for them. The council has stated they welcome all views, however have asked residents to focus on the sites in their own ward or local area, where their local knowledge will be most valuable.

Local views will be considered alongside detailed evidence, national policy and environmental information before deciding which sites may be suitable to take forward.

Alongside the sites consultation, the council is also consulting on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Report, which helps set out the environmental issues that will need to be considered as the Local Plan develops.

Feedback from this consultation will be considered alongside the technical assessment of sites and a later consultation on the wider Local Plan strategy.

Cllr Adam Zerny, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said:
“The forthcoming Local Plan needs to be about residents telling the council where future housing should go. Of course some of the land put forward by developers might be completely unsuitable so it’s important the public has its say and highlights the potential issues with some of these locations. “The more people who take part, the better, as this will allow the council to make more informed decisions, taking into account public views alongside technical assessment.”

The council has also made clear that this consultation is separate from the planning application process. Some submitted sites may already be the subject of planning applications, but comments made through this consultation will only be considered as part of preparing the new Local Plan.

Anyone wishing to comment on a planning application must do so through the separate planning application process.

The consultation opens on 6 July 2026 and closes on 17 August 2026.

To find out more and take part, visit: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/local-plan-sites

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