Howards House Church Lane Cardington Bedford Bedfordshire MK44 3SR Data via plota.co.uk

26/00179/FUL - Major Full and Change of Use Awaiting decision

Proposal

Change of use from vacant 9 bedroom residential dwelling house to class F1 (provision of education) independent special educational needs School with minor internal alterations. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗

Application progress

Received
30 Jan 2026
Validated
26 Mar 2026
Consultation
5 Jun 2026
Decision
Awaiting decision

This application is under consideration - no decision has been issued yet.

Important details

Council
Bedford
Application type
Major Full and Change of Use
Postcode
MK44 3SR
Received
30 Jan 2026
Validated
26 Mar 2026
Ward
Shortstown
Parish
Cardington
Case officer
Show
Target decision
13 Aug 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
M A Iqbal Architecture - Mr M Iqbal

Public comments

6comments received
5 objecting1 neutral

83% object · above the UK average of 76%

11 neighbours consulted · Last counted 22 Aug 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14651977
Neighbours
5 Jun 2026
Site notice
12 Jun 2026
Press notice
27 Apr 2026
Env. assessment
No
Bedford
Planning Authority Score
2.4/10
Poor
#253 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Bedford is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #201 out of 296. 52% of applications have the time limit extended, above the 41% national average. Householder applications are slightly less likely to be approved here (86%) than the national average (90%).

Slower than most councils
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Bedford decision performance
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
80%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #259 of 296
86%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #239 of 296
56%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #201 of 296
52%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #233 of 296
52%
Minor dwellings approved
109 decided (1-9 homes)
69%
Major dwellings approved
26 decided (10+ homes)
67%
Change of use approved
57 decided
993
Total decisions
203 refused in the year to March 2026