Elective care hub at Britannia Road Car Park At Bedford Hospital South Wing Accessed Via Kings Place

What was proposed

The hybrid application proposed demolishing the offices and building a phased healthcare facility with parking, landscaping, infrastructure and access.

“Planning permission is sought via a hybrid application for the demolition of Kings Place Offices and erection of a multi-storey building to be used as a dedicated healthcare facility (Elective Care Hub) with associated infrastructure, car parking, landscaping and access.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site comprised hospital offices and a car park in an established urban area near the town centre, public transport and residential flats.

“The application site comprises the Kings Place Offices and the Britannia Road Car Park located to the south of Bedford Hospital, accessed from Britannia Road and via Kings Place. The site lies within an established urban area characterised by a mix of hospital buildings, surface car parking, commercial premises and residential flats, including multi storey residential development on the opposite side of Britannia Road.”

“The site forms part of the wider Bedford Hospital estate and occupies a highly prominent and strategic location on a key approach into Bedford town centre. The surrounding area is subject to significant change, with emerging proposals associated with the East West Rail (EWR) project, including a potential future station in close proximity to the site, as well as an envisaged mixed use scheme to the northeast of the site.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended permission because the healthcare benefits outweighed conflict caused by insufficient information about parking loss and highway effects.

“Officers acknowledge that without the Parking Accumulation Survey, it cannot be confirmed, based on the information submitted, that the loss of parking would not have any highway safety implications. The Applicants have advised they are currently undertaking the Parking Accumulation Survey as requested by Officers, and an update on its outcome will be reported before Planning Committee for a decision.”

“Nonetheless, before a Parking Accumulation Survey can be reviewed, Officers consider that some conflict has been found with Policy 31 (i) of the BBLP 2030. This conflict is allocated significant weight.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Most consultees raised no objection or supported the proposal, while Anglian Water objected over surface-water evidence and highways objected over parking information.

“Anglian Water Objection -due to a lack of evidence confirming that the surface water hierarchy has been fully explored. Access (Building) Officer None received. Env Health & Trading Standards No objection subject to noise condition. Bedfordshire Fire And Rescue Service None received. Network Rail East None received. Conservation Officer No objection. Drainage Engineer None received. Environment Agency No comments to make. Ecology Officer No objection subject to conditions.”

“EWR Co has reviewed the amended information submitted by the Trust on 2 April 2026, and confirms that the Trust's amended development proposals for an Elective Care Hub on Britania Road are now consistent with the emerging proposals for EWR (as presented in EWR Co's Design Update consultation). Therefore, on this basis, EWR Co removes its holding objection to application 25/02209/MOF and confirms that it has no objection to this application being determined.”

Officer report

Residents’ concerns

Four neighbour comments, including two objections, raised traffic congestion, construction parking, East West Rail coordination and the possible loss of parking.

“- 9 - The application was advertised to the general public by the way of neighbour letters and site notice in accordance with the requirements of article 15 (5) of the Development Management Procedure Order 2015. Four neighbour comments have been received, inclusive of two objections.”

“These are summarised below: o Lack of traffic management studies given that the site is in in location that already experiences significant traffic congestion o Loss of car-parking during construction with no mitigation obvious.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Councillor Atiq made a statement on the application.

The committee’s decision

Permission was granted in accordance with the planning recommendation, subject to the stated condition changes.

“That permission be granted in respect of the above application in accordance with the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control with the following Condition changes.”

Minutes