27 - 29 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PL Data via plota.co.uk

26/01863/FUL - Full Planning Awaiting decision
Change of useSigns & advertsTelecoms mastsUtility infrastructureCommercial premises

Proposal

Part Change of Use to Sui Generis (Betting Office) and external alterations to include installation of air conditioning units and satellite dishes. , Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
28 Sept 2026
✓
Validated
15 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 3 Dec 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision between 11 Dec 2026 and 7 Jan 2027, from Bedford's recent changes of use.

Comments are open until 10 Nov 2026

Comment on this application ↗

Documents

View the documents on the council's website ↗

Site constraints 8

In flood zones plus climate change
Inside the extent flood zones 2 and 3 could reach with climate change: the Central allowance for the 2080s on rivers, the Upper End allowance for sea level rise to 2125. From rivers. Defences are not counted.
The Environment Agency flood map for planning. Councils use it to decide when a flood risk assessment and the sequential test are needed. It is indicative and does not show whether a particular property will flood.
Flood map ↗
Air quality management area: Bedford Town Centre AQMA
The council has declared the area as failing an air quality objective.
Schemes that add traffic, parking or combustion plant are assessed against the area's action plan and may need an air quality assessment.
Council record ↗
2 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: unnamed, 39 m away · 1 Grade II*
The site itself is not listed. Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show all 2 with distances
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Scheduled monument 176 m away: Remains of the Old George Inn; Conservation area 67 m away: Bedford; National infrastructure project 417 m away: East West Rail - Bedford to Cambridge and Western improvements, at pre-application; Heritage at risk 67 m away: Bedford; Inside the Bedford built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt

Checked on 21 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Planning Inspectorate and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Building

Floor area511 m² (5,500 sq ft)
Energy ratingC (asset rating 57)
UseRetail/Financial and Professional Services
HeatingHeating and Natural Ventilation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in September 2024, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Other new applications on this street

19 Oct 2026Pending

129 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1DN

External alterations to windows and doors.

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8 Sept 2026Pending

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11 Harpur Centre Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1TJ

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19 Oct 2026Pending

129 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1DN

External alterations to windows and doors.

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15 Oct 2026Pending

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Important details

Council
Bedford
Application type
Full Planning
Postcode
MK40 1PL
Received
28 Sept 2026
Validated
15 Oct 2026
Ward
Greyfriars
Parish
Bedford Town
Case officer
Show
Target decision
3 Dec 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Lichfields - Mr M Koveckis

Decision outlook

Day 13 of the 56-day target. Bedford usually decides changes of use by day 70.

Day 1357 days to the predicted decision (day 70)
40%decided within 8 weeks
65%approved
12%go to committee

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Bedford in the last twelve months, from validation. Bedford decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 21 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15225039
Planning Portal ref
PP-15225039
Comments by
10 Nov 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

26 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025 Approved
Installation of replacement shop front on Western elevation to facilitate sub-division of…
25/02393/FUL
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
1 - 5 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PL
Installation of various internally illuminated and non-illuminated signage.
25/02065/ADV
2025
29 - 31 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LA
Non-Illuminated surround signage around ATM
25/00399/ADV
2025
7 - 11 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PN
External decoration to shop-front, including installation of 1no. set of powder coated al…
25/00353/FUL
2025
7 - 11 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PN
Installation of 1 internally illuminated fascia sign and 1 internally illuminated project…
25/00354/ADV
2024
31 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PL
Installation of 3 internally illuminated fascia signs and 1 internally illuminated projec…
24/01598/ADV
2024 Approved
22 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Certificate to confirm that the details submitted do not require planning permission (Cha…
24/00490/LDP
2024
29 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LA
Change of use of ground floor to Use Class E 'Business, Commercial and Services' together…
24/00209/FUL
2023 Approved
22 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
New ground floor front access door (shop front) elevation.
23/02340/FUL
2023 Approved
26 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Temporary change of use from offices (use class E) to rough sleeper assessment hub and em…
23/02266/DC3
2023
The Telephone Exchange 30 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Removal of glass panes from four windows on the fourth floor North elevation and installa…
23/02341/FUL
2023 Approved
1 Harpur Centre Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1TJ
Replacement of 7 (5 internally illuminated and 2 non-illuminated) fascia panels/signs and…
23/01546/ADV
2023 Refused
22 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Sub-division of existing ground floor area to provide 3no. commercial units with access t…
23/01099/FUL
2023 Refused
1 - 5 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PL
Installation of 7 halo illuminated fascia signs; 1 non-illuminated sign; 11 non-illuminat…
23/00877/ADV
2023
16 - 18 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Alterations to the external facade to include new windows and door openings
23/01289/FUL
2022 Approved
The Telephone Exchange 30 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Replacement of six windows with ventilation louvres to northern facade of existing buildi…
22/02634/FUL
2022 Approved
21 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LA
Change of use from cafe to Hot food takeaway including installation of extraction flue
22/02497/FUL
2022 Refused
22 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LB
Sub-division of existing ground floor area to provide 3no. commercial units with access t…
22/01924/FUL
2022 Approved
21 -22 Harpur Centre Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1TP
Installation of 3 no. box fascias with internally illuminated lettering, 8 no. non-illumi…
22/01364/ADV
2022 Approved
21 - 22 Harpur Centre Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1TJ
New aluminium automatic swing door and installation of new shopfront
22/01365/FUL
2022 Approved
23 - 25 Harpur Centre Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1TP
Installation of two enlarged replacement louvres on the front elevation at first floor le…
22/01164/FUL
2017 Approved
13 - 21 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PL
First floor infill extension to expand shop unit.
17/01070/FUL
2016 Approved
17 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LA
Alterations and reconfiguration to two retail (A1) units on ground floor level to form th…
16/03106/FUL
2016 Approved
13 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LA
Replacement windows to front elevation
16/02892/FUL
2016 Approved
13 Harpur Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1LA
Installation of non-illuminated fascia and hanging sign
16/01666/ADV
2016 Approved
1 Midland Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK40 1PL
Installation of 4 internally illuminated fascia signs, 2 internally illuminated hanging s…
16/00432/ADV
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 statistics
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
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.