COPLE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN DECISION STATEMENT
As a result of the referendum on 5 February 2026, Bedford Borough Council has ‘made’ (brought into legal force) the Cople Neighbourhood Development Plan. The Plan will now form part of the development plan for the Bedford Borough Council area.
The Decision Statement can be found at the following link Cople NP Decision statement – making plan
The Made Neighbourhood Plan can be found at the following link Cople Neighbourhood Plan – Made version
What is a Neighbourhood Plan?
The localism Act 2011 reformed the planning system to give local people new opportunities to shape the development in their community. It introduced a new type of community-led plan that can be used to set out more detailed priorities for development at local level.
Neighbourhood Plans are optional documents, however they help communities to have a say in the future use of land and buildings in their neighbourhood.
Why make a Neighbourhood Plan?
Once a Neighbourhood Plan is made (adopted) it becomes a formal part of the planning policy for the area alongside Bedford Borough Council’s Local Plan. Therefore it forms the basis for determining future planning applications and developments.
To find out more information about Bedford Borough’s Local Plan Document, visit the Bedford Borough Council website at Bedford Borough Local Plan | Bedford Borough Council
Who is responsible for preparing the Neighbourhood Plan?
Preparing a Neighbourhood Plan should be a community led project, put together by the community, for the community. It can bring together residents, businesses, local groups, landowners and developers in order to shape the area in which they live. It is a requirement that Bedford Borough Council are involved throughout the process as it is important that any Neighbourhood Plans fit into the Borough Council’s Local Plan.
Where did we start?
A Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group worked on a Neighbourhood Plan between 2015 and 2018. The work of Steering Group halted in 2018 as there were not enough volunteers available. A new Steering Group was formed in 2021 and the work on the Neighbourhood Plan progressed again.
The first stage in the process required the Parish Council to make an application to Bedford Borough Council to designate Cople as a Neighbourhood Area. It should be noted, that until this stage was complete, Cople was not be in a position to proceed with a Plan.
Further to our application and in accordance with the requirements of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, the area was designated as ‘Cople Neighbourhood Area’.
To view the Council’s formal decision statement and map showing the designated area, please see the link below