Bedford's Growth Plan

Accelerating the installation of superfast broadband across Bedford Borough, delivering the 'missing link' of the Bedford Western bypass, a brand new bus station for Bedford and stimulating new business investment in the borough. These are just some of the actions in an ambitious plan to help the borough grow and prosper in the coming years.

Public consultation on Bedford Borough Council's draft Growth Plan is now underway, and the Council is seeking views on the strategy and 30 specific actions it has set out to achieve further inward investment and new jobs and growth locally.

The Growth Plan is intended to build on major inward investment successes in recent years such as the new Waitrose, new multi-million pound storage depot Viking Storage, international bakery giant Lantmannen Unibake's new plant and the Morrison's on the former Camford Works site on Ampthill road, which stood derelict even through the so-called 'boom years' for the economy.

Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "A large number of recent inward investment successes including Waitrose, Viking Storage, Morrison's and B and Q have created hundreds of new jobs locally, but we need to do even more in the coming months and years to deliver the growth we all want to see.

"The draft Growth Plan sets out a range of specific actions which we believe can help bring crucial jobs and economic growth to the borough.'

"These are extremely challenging economic times, which is why it is more important than ever that the message goes out loud and clear that Bedford is open for business. The draft growth plan shows potential investors the depth of the commitment in the Borough to supporting the economic growth we need. Bedford really is a great place to do business, with excellent infrastructure and local services in place.

"Through the draft Growth plan we are setting out how we believe we can make it even better."

Public consultation on the Bedford Borough Growth Plan runs until 26 August 2013. You can take part by visiting www.bedford.gov.uk/growthplan or visiting Borough Hall reception or the Council's libraries. Responses received will help shape the final document which will be presented to the Council's Executive for approval later in the year.