There should be “some urgency” to develop a “prime” Bedford town centre site, a borough councillor has said.
The Budget and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee was told on November 2, that an update on plans for the former Beales/Debenhams site was published in March 2023, this was two months prior to the Lib Dems losing Bedford’s mayoral election.
Debenhams closed its doors on May 4, 2022.
Cllr Christine McHugh (Lib Dems, Goldington) asked for an update on the progress made since (March 2023) and when the public would be able to have a say about the plans.
When the Bulletin asked Mayor Tom Wootton what his response to Cllr McHugh’s question was that: “The council is getting on with it.”
Patrick Lyons, manager for Bedford Town Deal replied: “The main progress since March is obviously the allocation within the local plan and the process of that going forward.
“In terms of something to bring to the public, to ask for comments or consideration, we’re not immediately at that stage,” he said.
A briefing note presented to the committee said that council officers continue to work with parties to formulate a “holistic, joined-up approach” to the complex assets within the site.
It added that this is to bring forward a scheme and plan with the objective of delivering “grade A space” for uses including residential, retail, food & beverage, leisure, and traditional retail.
Before going into a private session to discuss any commercial aspects of the site’s plans, Cllr McHugh said the Committee should support work to bring the site forward.
“I appreciate there are difficulties, but I’d like to have thought that there was some urgency,” she said.
“This is a prime site, it’s a lot of square metres of empty retail space, I’d have thought it should be a real urgent issue to bring it forward.”
NOVEMBER 2023 EDITIONS
BEDS BOROUGH
https://digital.magmgr.com/Preview/Index/2696083#page/1
BEDS COUNTY
https://digital.magmgr.com/Preview/Index/2696119#page/1
KEMPSTON CALLING
https://digital.magmgr.com/Preview/Index/2696127#page/1
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