We are consulting on our draft Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4). The draft LTP4 and associated assessments are available to read in full, and we would really encourage everyone to read these documents before responding:
The information on the following pages gives you an overview of what is included in the draft Local Transport Plan 4, and the page numbers so that you can easily find the different proposals and read more detail.
To give your feedback please complete our questionnaire before Sunday 20 September 2026.
If you need a copy of the consultation in an alternative format, please call us on 0300 300 8000 or email consultations@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
The next few pages provide the following overview:
These are some of the specific proposals we want your feedback on, but you can also give us any other thoughts you have on the document as a whole.
Consultation closes: Sunday 20 September 2026
Consultation opened: Monday 29 June 2026
Central Bedfordshire’s fourth Local Transport Plan 4 (draft LTP4) is a high-level strategic document (required by the Transport Act 2000) setting out the core policies that steer our overall approach to transport and travel.
Supporting the draft LTP4 are a series of interlinked plans, policies and strategies – providing additional detail on a range of transport related topics.
The draft LTP4 outlines how, by 2040, we will seek to realise our vision of:
a place where people have access to a sustainable and future proofed transport system that provides a variety of attractive and realistic travel choices.
Central Bedfordshire has a growing population and is a predominantly rural area.
Opportunities to travel by means other than the car are limited. The rural nature of much of Central Bedfordshire is in part responsible for car ownership levels (and usage) that are higher than the national average.
Central Bedfordshire is served by excellent transport links, including parts of the strategic road network such as the M1 and A1, and the Midland, East Coast and West Coast main line railways. Whilst bringing connectivity benefits, the presence of strategic roads generates significant through traffic, impacting carbon emissions – adding to an existing challenge for the draft LTP4.
Our principles are:
For more information about these principles, see page 12 of the draft LTP4.
Our vision is underpinned by four key themes which are summarised below. These themes and objectives are supported by policies and actions to ensure that they are reflected in every aspect of our transport decision making and project delivery across the council.
The full details of the proposed policies and actions are set out in the draft LTP4; page numbers are provided for easy reference to the relevant sections.
Our objectives are to create more attractive streets and vibrant communities and look to improve our residents’ physical and mental health.
Policies that will help us to achieve this include considering transport options available to access essential services, prioritising active travel in town and village centres and supporting residents to develop healthy travel habits for life.
Our objectives are to seek to provide the effective access businesses and communities need to reach their full potential while also helping to realise new sustainable growth opportunities and supporting new technology, where beneficial.
Policies to help us achieve this include supporting non-car options for accessing local services and reducing single-occupancy car use; seeking to influence others to help facilitate and encourage sustainable development; and seeking to improve strategic transport networks and supporting technological advancements that facilitate digital access and improve transport and travel.
Our objectives are to work to reduce the number and severity of casualties and collisions on our transport network and help people feel safer whilst travelling, alongside working to enable everyone to reach their destinations no matter who they are or where they live.
Policies that will help us to achieve this include more accessible and safer road designs and speed limits; road safety awareness and education; and working with others to reduce barriers to sustainable travel options.
Our objectives are to consider the impacts of transport schemes, support and enhance biodiversity, take action to minimise transport-related air and noise pollution, support the decarbonisation of the transport network and work to adapt it to the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
Policies that will help us to achieve this include considering the historic environment, landscapes, townscapes and heritage assets, in the development of new transport schemes and when maintaining existing transport infrastructure, while ensuring infrastructure is resilient to the effects of extreme weather and climate change, alongside working to reduce CO2e emissions from transport operations and transport schemes (including maintenance).
Consultation closes: Sunday 20 September 2026
Consultation opened: Monday 29 June 2026
Broadly, the draft LTP4 includes commitments to deliver:
The specific actions and policy proposals to deliver the themes and objectives are outlined in detail in the draft LTP4 document.
Funding sources for delivering the draft LTP4 include dedicated funding provided by central government for delivering local transport plans (the Local Transport Grant), complemented by other funding streams (depending on availability) dedicated to areas such as maintenance, buses, active travel and electric vehicle charging. Developer funding secured for schemes directly related to development sites and other income sources may also be available.
Uncertainty of funding for delivery of projects and schemes, and the availability of less funding than necessary to deliver the LTP4 fully will be a key challenge over the coming years. The draft LTP4 outlines actions deliverable within current budgets, actions that would need additional funding (“bigger aspirations”) and actions which can only be delivered in partnership with others. We will seek to secure additional funds to deliver our bigger aspirations, with the draft LTP4 acting as a policy base to support any future bids for funding.
To ensure we are delivering what we set out to achieve in the draft LTP4, we will monitor its implementation in 3 main ways: tracking progress against the actions required to deliver our objectives; a regular travel survey to update our understanding of residents’ travel habits, attitudes and preferences; and drawing upon other sources of data such as traffic counts and passenger surveys.
Progress towards targets will be measured against a baseline, with periodic reporting.