East of England
Bedford must plan for 1,251 homes a year
Bedford has to plan for 1,251 new homes a year, 6,255 over 5 years.
No brownfield cover figure for Bedford. Only 75% of the sites on this council's brownfield register give a housing estimate, so its capacity cannot be totalled. We publish the cover figure only where at least 80% do.
That is a gap in the register, not evidence that Bedford has no brownfield land.
Delivery
Over the three years to March 2025, Bedford delivered 2,812 of the 2,981 homes it was required to: 94%. The government's published consequence: the council must publish an action plan.
What is on the brownfield register
89 live sites covering 548 hectares, of which 23 have no planning permission yet. 22 of them give no housing estimate.
A council short of land has to find more, and the 17 August 2026 planning framework widened what counts as grey belt. This page describes the council's position. It does not say whether any particular piece of land would get permission.
Housing Delivery Test 2025 measurement, published 17 August 2026.