Club Statement - Planning for a New Sports Campus in Bedford
Our ambition for Bedford has always been clear. We want to bring league football to the town and build a club where our men’s and women’s teams compete at the highest level possible.
We have made strong progress in recent years, with both our men’s and women’s teams advancing through the leagues, and we are determined to build on that momentum. Central to this ambition is creating opportunities for local talent - ensuring that young players in Bedford and the surrounding communities can develop, compete and succeed at the highest possible level without having to leave the town. Alongside this, we are committed to expanding participation in sport and improving access for people of all ages and abilities.
Delivering this vision requires infrastructure that matches our ambition. For a number of years, we have been exploring plans for a new stadium and associated facilities capable of supporting the Club’s long-term growth.
In relation to the recently published Bedfordshire Independant article, the emerging proposals set out a vision for a new, integrated sports campus that would significantly enhance the quality and range of sporting facilities in Bedford. This includes a stadium alongside community facilities designed to support year-round use and wider participation.
It is important to emphasise that these proposals are at an early stage. No decisions have been made, and no proposals have been agreed with Bedford Borough Council. The design, scale and layout of any development will be refined through consultation and detailed technical assessment.
We recognise the importance of the existing athletics facilities and the opportunity to support their long-term future within a high-quality, well-invested multi-sport environment. We also recognise that there are a number of established and thriving users of the site, and it is a key principle of the project that these users are appropriately supported. The intention is to ensure that they are provided with facilities of an equivalent - and ideally enhanced - standard in the future, whether within the site or at an alternative location.
We understand that local residents will have important questions, particularly around traffic, parking, noise and lighting. These matters will be carefully considered as part of the planning process, and we are committed to ensuring that local views play a meaningful role in shaping the proposals as they develop.
In light of recent media interest, we are reviewing our approach to consultation with a view to bringing this forward. This will provide formal opportunities for stakeholders to learn more about the proposals, ask questions and provide feedback. The Masterplan will continue to evolve through this process, alongside detailed technical work, before any planning application is submitted.
We are committed to working collaboratively with Bedford Borough Council, local stakeholders and the wider community to ensure that any future proposals deliver lasting benefits for the town - supporting sport, health, and community life as part of Bedford’s wider growth and development.
The club will be making no further comment at this time.
