Planning decisions in Bedford
As of 12 Jun 2026, covering the last 5 years.
On the public planning record, Bedford approved 81% of 2,302 decided applications in the last 5 years. Here is the approval rate for the most common home-project types. It is useful before you apply and free for local reporters to cite with attribution to MyTrustedTraders.
Approval rate by project type
- Extension : 82% approved (626 decided, ~63 days)
- Rear extension : 83% approved (469 decided, ~63 days)
- Side extension : 80% approved (200 decided, ~60 days)
- Loft conversion : 86% approved (139 decided, ~59 days)
- Tree work : 100% approved (122 decided, ~38 days) †
- Two-storey extension : 70% approved (118 decided, ~74 days)
- Demolition : 74% approved (113 decided, ~87 days)
- Change of use : 54% approved (87 decided, ~86 days)
- Boundary wall / fence / gates : 76% approved (71 decided, ~80 days)
- Porch : 78% approved (65 decided, ~63 days)
- Roof / fenestration : 87% approved (63 decided, ~72 days)
- Garage conversion : 87% approved (63 decided, ~60 days)
- Outbuilding / garden room : 82% approved (61 decided, ~81 days)
- Conservatory / orangery : 81% approved (57 decided, ~58 days)
- New dwelling : 65% approved (48 decided, ~167 days)
† We hold no refused decisions for this type here, so treat a full approval rate with caution. The council's own portal has the complete history.
Method
Figures are aggregates over the public planning decisions we hold for Bedford, matched to a project type from the application description. Overall approval is decided-weighted across project types, using each type's rate over the last 5 years where we hold enough decisions, otherwise its full record. Only types with at least five decided applications are shown. We publish aggregate counts only, with no application references or applicant names. Full method and limits.