At Bedford Borough Council’s Executive Committee held on Wednesday 22nd February, the draft Local Plan 2035 was discussed in some detail, which considers how and where future development should take place in the Borough.

At the meeting a resolution was put forward by Councillor Charles Royden asking that Freemen’s Common be withdrawn from the list of sites for potential housing development. Councillor Royden stated that this was due to the fact that a previous decision by a government appointed Planning Inspector had concluded that Freemen’s Common should not be developed.

The resolution was carried at the meeting and so Freemen’s Common will now be withdrawn as a potential site for housing development.

This follows a long campaign by CPRE Bedfordshire and others against the development of this really important open green space on the urban fringe of Bedford Town on the edge of Brickhill.

A spokesperson for CPRE Bedfordshire said:

“We are delighted that Freemen’s Common has been saved from housing development and we congratulate Bedford Borough Council on their decision to withdraw the land from their draft Local Plan 2035.

"This 12.5 hectare area of open green space is very important to the residents of Brickhill and Bedford Borough as a whole. It has been in public ownership for over 200 years. 

"We look forward to the Council discussing the future of Freemen’s Common with local people with a view to opening up the land to increased public access and improving biodiversity by the planting of trees etc.

"Green spaces on the urban fringe of towns like Bedford are extremely important places where residents of all ages can experience tranquillity and peace of mind. They provide green corridors essential to our wildlife.”

In November 2016, we reported that the land had been put forward for development as part of Bedford Borough Council's Local plan process.