Bedford Council Approves £45m Riverside Regeneration Plan

Bedford Borough Council has voted to approve a £45 million regeneration plan for the town's riverside quarter, ending three years of consultation, two public exhibitions, and one memorable evening in the Corn Exchange chamber when a heated exchange between councillors over the height of proposed trees led to the temporary adjournment of the meeting.

The plan, developed by architects Gable & Shore in partnership with the council's regeneration team, covers a 1.2-kilometre stretch of the north bank of the River Great Ouse between the Town Bridge and the Embankment. It includes new public plazas, a performance space, a pedestrian and cycle bridge connecting to Russell Park, independent retail units at ground level, and significant improvements to riverside walkways.

The Leader of the Council, speaking after the vote of 24 in favour and 11 against, said the decision represented "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reconnect the town with its river." The scheme is expected to attract a further £18 million in private sector investment, with developers already in discussion over the proposed mixed-use building at the eastern end of the site.

Not everyone was satisfied. The Bedford Civic Society, which had submitted a 43-page objection to elements of the scheme, welcomed the public realm improvements but expressed concern that the proposed retail units risked "undermining the character of the existing independent shopping quarter on Midland Road." A spokesman told the Free Press the group would be "watching the detail of implementation very closely."

Work is expected to begin in early 2026, with the first phase — the riverside walkway and southern plaza — complete by summer 2027. The full scheme is projected to conclude in 2029, subject to planning approval for individual buildings.

A public drop-in session will be held at the Higgins Bedford museum on the 28th of this month, where residents can view updated drawings and speak with the project team between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.