East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has published revised proposals for car parking at Bedford station, with a preferred option providing 900 spaces across two locations.
The plans follow consultation with local communities, Bedford Borough Council, MPs and other stakeholders. The preferred design, known as Option 3c, would place about 70% of the spaces east of the station on Ashburnham Road, in a six-storey multi-storey car park and a surface car park. The remaining 30% would be provided in a surface car park off Ford End Road.
Design changes follow consultation
EWR Co said the multi-storey car park would be designed at a similar height to some existing buildings on Ashburnham Road. The ground floor could also accommodate a community hub and GP surgery, subject to further review and development.
The company will continue working with Historic England as the design develops. Further design work and detailed transport assessments will examine potential effects on the local road network and surrounding communities.
The latest arrangement follows concerns raised during earlier consultations. Plans presented in 2024 included an eight-storey car park with 1,200 spaces on the site of the existing station car park on Ashburnham Road. Responses raised concerns about the height of the building and the concentration of traffic at one location.
A 2026 consultation proposed a 1,200-space multi-storey car park on Ford End Road, but feedback indicated that this could increase traffic through the Queen’s Park area. EWR Co said the preferred option responds to concerns about the scale of the Ashburnham Road structure while reducing traffic crossing into Ford End Road.
According to EWR Co, the proposals are intended to support higher passenger numbers and help establish Bedford station as a gateway to the town, while creating conditions for investment, development and improved connections between the town centre, local communities and the wider region.
David Hughes, chief executive of EWR Co, said: “We’d like to thank the people of Bedford for helping us shape our plans for car parking in Bedford. We believe these proposals strike the right balance for Bedford. It provides the parking capacity needed for a growing railway, whilst ensuring traffic is spread more evenly across the town.
“By making efficient use of land, it also helps create the conditions for investment and regeneration around the station – delivering the infrastructure passengers need today while supporting Bedford’s ambitions for tomorrow. We will continue to work closely with local communities and stakeholders as the design develop further.”
Public drop-in events
Residents and other interested parties can view the updated designs and discuss the next steps with the EWR Co team at drop-in events at Trinity Arts and Leisure on Bromham Road, Bedford.
The events will take place from 6pm to 9pm on Tuesday 3 November and Thursday 12 November.