Following the July 2024 General Election, a think tank report recommended a new town be built at Tempsford, and the Government announced plans to expedite a new railway station there. In September 2025, Tempsford was shortlisted by the Government’s New Towns Taskforce for a potential development of over 40,000 homes, followed by a public consultation from March to May 2026. A development of this size will fundamentally impact life across Tempsford and our surrounding towns and villages.
What is Richard doing?
Richard is working to ensure local voices are represented in the Government’s decision-making process. He has been using his role in Parliament to challenge ministers and scrutinise the plans.
- Advocating for Infrastructure First: Richard has asked the Transport Secretary and National Highways to commit to necessary road, rail and service upgrade before any homes are built, and he continues to push for this. He has also raised this directly in a parliamentary debate on Planning and Development in Bedfordshire.
- Raising Flood and Environmental Risks: Richard has met with CPRE Bedfordshire and the national CPRE team to discuss critical flood risks in the area, and alerted the Housing Minister to floodplain concerns.
- Amplifying Local Voices: Both before and after the September 2025 shortlisting, Richard sought residents’ views on the proposal, working with Tempsford Parish Council Chair, Cllr David Sutton, to understand local concerns. Alongside Cllr Sutton, Richard and Central Bedfordshire Council leader, Cllr Adam Zerny, co-hosted a community meeting for Tempsford residents and submitted all local feedback directly to Ministers. He raised these resident concerns in a parliamentary debate on New Towns, held a joint briefing for local representatives from affected surrounding towns and parishes, and met with the Housing Minister to present their priorities.
- Pressing for Transparency: Richard has met with Anglian Water, parish councils, and Department officials to request clear timelines and answers about infrastructure capacity.
What's Next?
Richard is continuing to meet with constituents and affected local representatives to ensure local priorities remain at the top of the Housing Minister's agenda.
Stay Informed: You can read more about Richard's work on this below.
