Town and country planning
Local Authorities are responsible for most of the planning system which comprises 3 main elements: development plans; development control; and enforcement.
In Shire Counties like Bedfordshire there are two tiers of local government (County and Districts) and Town and Country Planning functions are divided between them.
The District or Borough Councils advise upon and deal with planning applications for extensions/alterations to houses & applications for new buildings; extensions/alterations to industrial buildings; changes of use; and also specialist applications such as those for listed buildings, advertisements, conservation area consents and work on trees. The Districts are also responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of these applications. If you have a query relating to these types of applications or would like application forms for this type of development - you must contact the relevant District directly. Links to their Planning websites are available here:
Bedford Borough Council |
Mid Beds District Council |
South Bedfordshire District Council|
Luton Borough Council|
The County Council is responsible for Minerals and Waste Applications and those Planning Applications made for its own development eg schools and libraries. More information regarding these is given within our
'Planning Applications' |pages. The County Council is also responsible for monitoring and enforcing minerals and waste developments, including unauthorised activities. More information is available from our
'Minerals and Waste Policy and Planning'| pages.
In addition the County Council has published several free advice leaflets about it's Planning Service. These can be viewed and/or downloaded from our Free Advice Leaflets page| or alternatively copies are available from the Development Planning and Control Section at County Hall.