We have published revised proposals for car parking at Bedford station, following extensive engagement with local communities, Bedford Borough Council, MPs and other stakeholders.
The new design includes the potential provision of a community hub and a GP surgery on the ground floor, subject to further review and development.
Following discussions with Bedford Borough Council, it has been agreed the car park provision for Bedford station should be 900 spaces overall. This preferred solution would see approximately 70 per cent of spaces located to the east of the station in a six-storey multi-storey car park (MSCP) and a surface car park on Ashburnham Road, with the remaining 30 per cent provided in a surface car park off Ford End Road.
The proposals have been shaped by feedback on previous plans, as well as detailed assessment of traffic, residential impacts, station access and Bedford’s longer-term regeneration ambitions.
In 2024, we proposed an eight-storey MSCP on the site of the existing station car park on Ashburnham Road. Feedback raised concerns about the height of the building and the potential for traffic to be concentrated in one location.
In our 2026 consultation, alternative plans for a MSCP with 1,200 spaces on Ford End Road were presented. Feedback highlighted concerns that concentrating parking there could increase traffic through Queen’s Park.
The latest plans split parking between the two sites, helping to distribute traffic more evenly. Further design development and transport assessment will continue as the proposals progress.
David Hughes, CEO, EWR Co, said: “We’d like to thank the people of Bedford for helping us shape our plans for car parking in Bedford. We believe these proposals strike the right balance for Bedford. It provides the parking capacity needed for a growing railway, whilst ensuring traffic is spread more evenly across the town.”
A community drop-in event is being held on Tuesday 3rd November and Thursday 12th November (6-9pm) at Trinity Arts and Leisure Centre, Bromham Road, Bedford for people to view the updated car parking designs, discuss them with the EWR Co team and find out about the next steps in the project.
