Revitalising the Heart of Bedford: Town Hall Office Block Demolition Begins on Monday

Monday 27th January will see the start of not one but two major projects which will help revitalise the heart of Bedford Town Centre. Not only is the bus station demolition beginning, but works alos commence on pulling down the Town Hall Office Block. This work will see the vast grey office building looming over St Paul's Square replaced with a public riverside square for everyone to enjoy.

The new public square by the river will be a central feature of a wider regeneration project which will also:

- Bring Town Centre cinema back to Bedford

- Create new opportunities for riverside dining at high quality restaurants

- Include a new footbridge over the river

- Attract hundreds of thousands of extra visitors to spend time and money in the town centre economy.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "The demolition of the Town Hall will open up the area for new links between the town centre and the river and new public space, riverside restaurants, the reintroduction of town centre cinema and much more. It will also bring new jobs and a huge increase in visitors to the town centre.

"With these works and the crucial bus station regeneration project, Bedford Borough is bucking the trend and delivering major new investment and jobs. Town centres are changing and need to adapt, and both of these vital schemes help to achieve the vision for Bedford town centre's future of an enjoyable destination in its own right, where people want to spend time, and spend money in our local economy."

The works commencing on 27th January will include the demolition of the Town Hall office block and neighbouring Riverside House office block. The Old Town Hall building will remain unaffected.