At a meeting of Bedford Borough Council Planning Committee on Monday 11 July, councillors listened to CPRE Bedfordshire’s arguments and unanimously rejected plans to demolish The Bury and replace it with a massive block of 55 flats.

The Bury manor house and the 17th Century wall surrounding it is the last remaining historic landmark to the west of Bedford.

A spokesperson for CPRE Bedfordshire said:

“We are so pleased that councillors recognised how important it was to the people of Kempston and Bedford Borough to retain a part of our history particularly when this area west of Kempston is undergoing such a massive amount of new housing development. The sense of place created by the retention of well-known local buildings is so important to people.”

"CPRE Bedfordshire now calls upon Bedfordia, the owners of The Bury, to enter into meaningful discussions with local people and other interested parties with a view to developing creative proposals for the future development of the site which would see The Bury manor house as the focal point."

CPRE Bedfordshire has been battling for over three years to save The Bury house from demolition. This is the second major planning application that has been fought-off, the first having been withdrawn by the developer amid a high level of opposition.