Mayor told to review plan to sell Debenhams store

Bedford Mayor Tom Wootton will have to re-examine his plans to sell land that includes a former Debenhams store to a developer.

Opposition members on Bedford Borough Council called in the decision to regenerate the Mayes Yard site because of a number of concerns and voted to refer the decision back to Wootton to look at again.

Liberal Democrat opposition leader Henry Vann said: "It is great there is now a chance to get a better plan in place to redevelop and regenerate our town centre for future generations."

Wootton has been approached for comment by the BBC.

Mayes Yard is also home to the Corn Exchange entertainment venue and the old Beales store, vacated in 2020 when the company went into administration.

The Debenhams building closed in 2021, but Bedford Borough Council bought it for £1.8m in 2024 and a year later reopened the ground floor as a cultural hub.

The BBC reported in July that Cityheart had been awarded the contract to regenerate the area.

Plans included bistros, cafes, restaurants and flats, plus improved pedestrian links for the town centre.

But a cross-party motion signed by Lib Dem, Labour and Green councillors highlighted concerns, including a claim the former Debenhams building could be sold for as little as a £1, a claim that Wootton has denied.

The motion also raised worries over a lack of a comprehensive plan for the area and a risk no development would take place past the initial phase, plus claims the developers had limited experience of Bedford and that a procurement process had cost almost £400,000 more than planned.

It felt the risk to the authority had been grossly underestimated, given its financial crisis, the possibility of government commissioners and the uncertain outcome of the elections in 2027.

Labour party leader in Bedford Abu Sultan, one of two Labour councillors who signed the motion, said: "We all want to see regeneration of Mayes Yard, however it is vital any development is carefully considered, and we hope the executive will now take on board the concerns raised by other councillors."

A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson said: "In accordance with the council's constitution, the committee considered representations from those who called in the decision, the decision-makers, witnesses, officers and legal advisers.

"The committee resolved to refer the original decision, together with the concerns it identified, back to the decision-maker for further consideration and review."

Cityheart has told the BBC it has nothing further to add at this time.

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