BEDFORD TOWN CENTRE WEST DEVELOPMENT PLANNING APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR TOWN CENTRE WEST SITE

St Modwen Developments Ltd, Bedford Borough Council’s development partner for the regeneration of a significant quarter of Bedford town centre, known as Bedford Town Centre West, has submitted a formal planning application for the proposed scheme.

The scheme has been developed over a period of 3 years following 2 public consultations and closely working with Bedford Borough Council and County Council as well as other key stakeholders.

The regeneration of this important area of the town centre will provide Bedford with a modern living and shopping environment providing a catalyst to expand the town centre’s offer. It will help retain existing users as well attracting new people to the town centre to live, work and shop.

The key objectives of the proposed scheme are to create an attractive extension to the shopping area which allows for a wider range of retail and leisure uses, as well as providing a new modern bus station and residential units to create a balanced community living within the town centre.

The proposals include the following uses:-
Retail 35,490 sqm (including department store; a food store; 40 retail units) 385,000 sqft
Leisure 8,906 sqm (including 5/6 restaurants; cinema) 96,000 sqft
Hotel 130 rooms
Residential up to 330 units
Car Park up to 1,100 spaces
Bus Station 10 bus bays/10 layover spaces

The submission of the planning application represents a significant step forward in the process of delivering long-awaited large-scale regeneration in the town centre.

Rupert Wood of St Modwen said, "St Modwen is pleased to submit the planning application for Bedford Town Centre West. We have worked hard to meet the various objectives and requirements of the Council and the local community, and believe that the proposals will help Bedford to secure its wider aspirations.

We believe that the scheme proposed will provide the right mixed-use development for Bedford and improve the quality of the town centre environment."

Shaun Field, Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council added: "With the submission of this planning application we are seeing the final pieces of the town centre jigsaw drop into place. The plans for this scheme offer a great vision for how the area around the bus station will be transformed into a vibrant and exciting new location for shopping, living and entertainment."

For further information please contact:

St Modwen Developments Ltd, Rupert Wood , Tel: 020 7499 5666)
Bedford Borough Council, Keiron Fletcher, (Tel: 01234 221622)

Notes:

1. St Modwen Developments Ltd was selected by Bedford Borough Council as its preferred developer in February 2004 and signed a Development
Agreement with Bedford Borough Council in December 2005

2. Main Consultants on the project are:-

Planning Consultants: Donaldsons LLP
Architect: Lyons Sleeman Hoare
Transport: Halcrow
Quantity Surveyor: Faithful & Gould
Environmental: Watermans
Retail Leasing Agents: R ushman & Wakefield and Kitchen Le Frenais Morgan