Bedford Borough Council held its first Bedford Town Centre Advisory Board meeting on 17th September 2025, marking a major milestone in shaping the future of Bedford’s town centre.
The Bedford Town Centre Advisory Board has been established to provide the Council with strategic advice on issues of particular interest to businesses and stakeholders within the town centre. The Board will meet regularly, approximately every two months, and consists of 15 members including local business leaders, representatives from Bedford College, the police, the Mayor of Bedford, and ward councillors. The Board is chaired by Councillor Andrea Spice, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Planning & Prosperity (including town centres).
The Board plays a vital role in ensuring that Bedford’s town centre aligns with local priorities and business needs, offering a coordinated business voice to the Council. It actively supports the Council’s vision of creating a town centre that people are proud to live in and excited to visit, amid ongoing regeneration projects such as the redevelopment of Mayes Yard and improvements to Midland Road and St Paul’s Square.
Cllr Andrea Spice said, “Bedford’s town centre is on the cusp of a remarkable transformation, and it’s vital that our business community is at the heart of this change. The new Town Centre Advisory Board will ensure that local businesses have a direct voice in shaping our town’s future, helping to create a vibrant, welcoming place that supports local enterprise and attracts visitors from far and wide.”
The Board will advise the Council on strategies and policies to foster economic growth, tackle challenges specific to the town centre, and contribute to Bedford’s wider prosperity. Meetings will promote collaboration among key stakeholders and help ensure that resources support the needs of town centre businesses.
