Growth Area Citizen Panel Questionnaire

521 members from Bedford Borough Council’s Citizens Panel completed the Growth Area Questionnaire. The questions and results were as follows:

1) Before reading this questionnaire, did you know that Bedford, Kempston and the Northern Marston Vale had been identified as a 'growth area' or that there were plans for a significant increase in the numbers of new homes built in the area?

Yes, I was aware of this 326 63%
No, I was unaware of this 195 37%
Total 521 100%

2) Do you know how many new homes have been planned for the Bedford Growth Area between 2001 and 2021?

Under 1000 6 1%
1000 to 9,999 36 7%
10,000 to 19,999 66 13%
20,000 to 29,999 42 8%
Over 30,000 53 10%
Don’t Know 321 61%
Total 524 100%


3 ) Do you know how many new jobs have been planned for the Bedford Growth Area between 2001 and 2021?

Under 1000 24 5%
1000 to 9,999 36 7%
10,000 to 19,999 36 7%
20,000 to 29,999 6 1%
Over 30,000 13 2%
Don’t Know 408 78%
Total 523 100%


4) Do you know where the main sites for new development are?
(517 respondents answered this question)

Elstow / The Wixams new settlement 228 44%
Land at Shortstown 150 29%
Wootton 93 18%
Stewartby 108 21%
Land west of Kempston 117 23%
Biddenham Loop 124 24%
North of Bromham Road, Biddenham 113 22%
Land north of Brickhill (North Bedford) 110 21%
Land north of Norse Road (North East Bedford) 179 35%
Other 6 1%
I did not know about any of these growth locations 118 23%


5) Do you think stepping up the pace and scale of development (housing, jobs and the associated infrastructure - transport, community facilities, open spaces etc) in the Bedford Growth Area is a positive or a negative change?

Positive 339 67%
Negative 169 33%
Total 508 100%


6) What do you think the benefits of an increase in housing and jobs and the associated infrastructure - transport, community facilities, open spaces etc) in the Bedford Growth Area might be?

359 respondents answered this question.
The most common responses were as follows: -

Economic growth 87 24%
No benefits 62 17%
Greater employment 59 16%
More, affordable housing 30 8%
Improved town centre 28 8%
Improved facilities generally 27 8%
Improved transport system 20 6%


7) What do you think the drawbacks of an increase in housing and jobs and the associated infrastructure - transport, community facilities, open spaces etc) in the Bedford Growth Area might be?

406 respondents answered this question.
The most common responses were as follows: -

Increased traffic 136 33%
Loss of the environment 79 19%
Pressure on emergency services 62 15%
General overcrowding & 49 12%*
*Infrastructural problems (e.g. with roads and pressure on public facilities) 30 7%*
Crime 25 6%
Overcrowding in schools 24 6%
8Overcrowded public transport 20 5%*
No drawbacks 20 5%
Greater pollution 18 4%


8) The vision for Bedford's long-term future is for a significant increase in economic growth and prosperity. In your opinion, what are Bedford's strengths that could be built on to make it a more attractive place to do business live and work?

350 respondents answered this question.
The most common responses were as follows: -

The River 128 37%
Location (geographically and in terms of access to major roads) 87 25%
Parks / open space 38 11%
Cultural diversity 36 10%
History 16 5%
Bedford's value as a market town 10 3%
Schools 9 3%