Comet Drive Shortstown, Bedford
25 addresses across 3 postcodes (MK42), about 120 m long, classed as a local road. USRN 27301945.
- Sales: 71 recorded sales since 1995; in 2026 the median was £390,000 across 1 sale.
- Energy: 20 homes have an energy certificate (C: 11, D: 8, E: 1).
- Flood: No address on its postcodes is in an area at high or medium risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water.
- Council tax: Most homes around it are in council tax band B; Band D in Bedford costs £2,472 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 100% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns, about 3.4 km (2.1 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden is about 320 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 7.3 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 7.1 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 34 to 37 m above sea level.
- Noise: 4 of its 25 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Bedoc Healthcare, about 2.4 km (1.5 miles) away.
- People: About 920 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 54% of households owned their home and 31% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 55 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often violence and sexual offences.
Sales on this street
| Year | Sales | Median price | Lowest | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | £390,000 | £390,000 | £390,000 |
| 2025 | 1 | £387,000 | £387,000 | £387,000 |
| 2024 | 1 | £300,000 | £300,000 | £300,000 |
| 2019 | 1 | £282,000 | £282,000 | £282,000 |
| 2018 | 1 | £327,500 | £327,500 | £327,500 |
| 2016 | 3 | £270,000 | £172,000 | £274,000 |
| 2013 | 1 | £200,000 | £200,000 | £200,000 |
| 2012 | 1 | £210,000 | £210,000 | £210,000 |
| 2010 | 1 | £134,995 | £134,995 | £134,995 |
| 2008 | 2 | £170,750 | £136,500 | £205,000 |
| 2007 | 3 | £217,000 | £152,500 | £229,000 |
| 2006 | 3 | £194,000 | £190,000 | £202,000 |
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jan 2026 | 13 MK42 0QX | Detached | £390,000 | |
| 25 Jul 2025 | 15 MK42 0QX | Detached | £387,000 | |
| 1 Nov 2024 | 27 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £300,000 | |
| 14 Jan 2021 | 9 MK42 0QX | Detached | £340,000 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 13 Nov 2019 | 11 MK42 0QX | Detached | £282,000 | |
| 1 Nov 2019 | 11 MK42 0QX | Detached | £297,500 | Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 5 Jun 2018 | 9 MK42 0QX | Detached | £327,500 | |
| 30 Jun 2016 | 19 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £172,000 | |
| 31 Mar 2016 | 5 MK42 0QX | Detached | £270,000 | |
| 29 Mar 2016 | 10 MK42 0QY | Detached | £274,000 | |
| 17 May 2013 | 5 MK42 0QX | Detached | £200,000 | |
| 10 Sep 2012 | 5 MK42 0QX | Detached | £210,000 | |
| 17 Dec 2010 | 21 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £134,995 | |
| 29 Sep 2008 | 3 MK42 0QX | Detached | £205,000 | |
| 14 Feb 2008 | 19 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £136,500 | |
| 21 Dec 2007 | 10 MK42 0QY | Detached | £217,000 | |
| 6 Jul 2007 | 11 MK42 0QX | Detached | £229,000 | |
| 29 Jun 2007 | 17 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £152,500 | |
| 24 Nov 2006 | 12 MK42 0QY | Detached | £194,000 | |
| 30 Jun 2006 | 18 MK42 0QY | Detached | £202,000 | |
| 26 May 2006 | 4 MK42 0QY | Detached | £190,000 | |
| 18 Nov 2005 | 16 MK42 0QY | Detached | £182,000 | |
| 27 May 2005 | 3 MK42 0QX | Detached | £195,000 | |
| 13 Apr 2005 | 5 MK42 0QX | Detached | £195,000 | |
| 21 Jul 2004 | 27 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £125,000 | |
| 9 Jul 2004 | 6 MK42 0QY | Detached | £189,000 | |
| 28 Jun 2004 | 9 MK42 0QX | Detached | £170,000 | |
| 3 Nov 2003 | 23 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £97,000 | |
| 9 Oct 2003 | 21 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £98,000 | |
| 18 Jul 2003 | 1 MK42 0QX | Detached | £152,000 | |
| 13 Jun 2003 | 16 MK42 0QY | Detached | £170,000 | |
| 25 Apr 2003 | 1 MK42 0QX | Detached | £147,000 | |
| 7 Mar 2003 | 20 MK42 0QY | Detached | £147,500 | |
| 3 Dec 2002 | 4 MK42 0QY | Detached | £165,000 | |
| 15 Oct 2002 | 12 MK42 0QY | Detached | £156,000 | |
| 20 Sep 2002 | 20 MK42 0QY | Detached | £127,000 | |
| 18 Jul 2002 | 11 MK42 0QX | Detached | £148,518 | |
| 12 Jul 2002 | 25 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £82,500 | |
| 27 Jun 2002 | 19 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £76,000 | |
| 24 May 2002 | 3 MK42 0QX | Detached | £139,000 | |
| 26 Mar 2002 | 7 MK42 0QX | Detached | £119,950 | |
| 6 Dec 2001 | 6 MK42 0QY | Detached | £122,000 | |
| 2 Nov 2001 | 17 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £84,500 | |
| 23 Jul 2001 | 10 MK42 0QY | Detached | £124,950 | |
| 24 Nov 2000 | 9 MK42 0QX | Detached | £103,000 | |
| 3 Nov 2000 | 11 MK42 0QX | Detached | £135,000 | |
| 4 Jul 2000 | 25 MK42 0QX | Terraced | £73,000 | |
| 25 Feb 2000 | 18 MK42 0QY | Detached | £112,500 | New build. |
| 25 Feb 2000 | 20 MK42 0QY | Detached | £99,950 | New build. |
| 24 Feb 2000 | 15 MK42 0QX | Detached | £107,500 | New build. |
Energy performance certificates
20 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 94 m². Most common: House, detached (15); House, mid-terrace (4); House, end-terrace (1). Built: 1996-2002 (16); 1991-1995 (4). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (12); rented (private) (4).
Each home's certificates and sales (14 addresses)
- 1, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 3, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 5, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 6, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 7, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 9, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 10, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 11, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 14, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 16, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 18, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 19, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 20, Comet Drive, Shortstown
- 21, Comet Drive, Shortstown
Council tax
What each band costs in Bedford in 2026-27: Band D £2,472 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,648 | £1,922 | £2,197 | £2,472 | £3,021 | £3,570 | £4,120 | £4,943 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhoods around this street: most are in band B (36% of about 1,520 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: no postcode centre in this street's postcodes is in one.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: none.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Tree preservation orders: none recorded, though not every council has published theirs.
- Green belt: no.
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- RAF Cardington and adjoining land Shortstown, permissioned (630 m (0.4 miles))
Roadworks
No street works under way, planned or finished in the last three months on this street, in permits up to 30 September 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 0 addresses are in areas at high risk, 0 at medium risk and 4 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: no postcode centre on this street is in flood zone 2 or 3.
| Postcode | Planning zone | Addresses at high / medium / low risk | Groundwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| MK42 0QX | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 1 | unlikely |
| MK42 0QY | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 3 | unlikely |
| MK42 0TQ | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's 25 addresses are between 34 m and 37 m above sea level (36 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK42 0QX | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| MK42 0QY | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| MK42 0TQ | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Bedford St Johns 176,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 3.4 km (2.1 miles) |
| Bedford 3.8 million journeys in 2024–25 | 4.5 km (2.8 miles) | |
| Kempston Hardwick 9,780 journeys in 2024–25 | 5.3 km (3.3 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 11 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 17 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest De Havilland Avenue Shortstown | 40 m |
| Bus or coach station | Bus Station Bedford | 4.2 km (2.6 miles) |
| EV charging points | 1 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest bp Pulse | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 26.4 km (16 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | Bedoc Healthcare | 2.4 km (1.5 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 2 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Pyramid Pharmacy | 390 m |
| NHS dentists | London Road Health Centre | 2.8 km (1.7 miles) |
| Hospital | Bedford Hospital | 3.6 km (2.2 miles) |
| Police station | Bedford Police Station | 4.2 km (2.6 miles) |
| Cash machines | Nisa Cashzone | 2.8 km (1.7 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 6,150 m² | 320 m |
| Play area | 9 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 110 m² | 100 m |
| Playing field | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 4.7 ha | 100 m |
| Allotments | Bunyan Allotments 8.9 ha | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 1 park or garden, 0.6 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Cardington Number 1 Shed at Raf Cardington, a listed building (Grade II*), 590 m (0.4 miles) east. 7 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 2 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Cardington Number 1 Shed at Raf Cardington | Listed building, Grade II* | 590 m (0.4 miles) east |
| Cardington Number 2 Shed at Raf Cardington | Listed building, Grade II* | 690 m (0.4 miles) east |
| Site discovered by aerial photography S of village | Scheduled monument | 1.7 km (1 mile) east |
| Garden to Howard's House | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) north-east |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers' Wood | Wood | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) south-east |
| Shocott Spring | Wood | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) south |
| Cardington Spillway | Lake or reservoir | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) north |
| Press Meadow | Wood | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) north |
| Longholme Island | Island | 2.8 km (1.8 miles) north-west |
| Summerhouse Hill | Hill | 2.9 km (1.8 miles) north |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 7.3 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 7.1 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 12.5 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; PM2.5 is above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| 60 to 64 | 1 | 0 |
| 55 to 59 | 3 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 21 | 25 |
4 of the street's 25 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, above the WHO guidelines.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for Bedford: see them on the Bedford page.
Nearest schools
| School | Phase | Ages | Distance | Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortstown Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 330 m | Report card (Feb 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Expected standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Cotton End Forest School | Primary | 2–11 | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) | No overall grade (May 2025, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Good |
| Bedford Academy | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | Good (Mar 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JK Superstore Limited MK42 0UF | Retailers - other | 240 m | 5 Very good | 5 Dec 2022 |
| Tesco MK42 0GE | Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 390 m | 4 Good | 21 Nov 2019 |
| The Hangar Cafe And Bar MK42 0GE | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 390 m | 5 Very good | 8 Oct 2025 |
| Shortstown Foodbar MK42 0GE | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 420 m (0.3 miles) | 4 Good | 22 Jan 2026 |
| Superfood Explorer MK42 0FN | Importers/Exporters | 480 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 22 Apr 2025 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 29 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 10 |
| Other crime | 3 |
| Vehicle crime | 3 |
| Other theft | 3 |
| Drugs | 3 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 2 |
| Burglary | 1 |
| Possession of weapons | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near De Havilland Avenue (17); On or near Blackburn Close (12); On or near Greycote (6); On or near Comet Drive (6); On or near Scott Avenue (5).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 24% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 8% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 54% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 13% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 4% | 1% |
| Social rented | 32% | 17% |
| Private rented | 10% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 69% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 6% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 10% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 2% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 30% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 57% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | under 1% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 2% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 6% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 59% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 9% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 31% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 12% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 5% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 91% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The 2 neighbourhoods around this street are in deciles 4 to 7 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
What has changed
Nothing new since the change feed started on 30 October 2026. New sales and energy certificates, and hygiene ratings, school inspections and flood figures nearby, will be listed here as the sources update.
Postcodes on this street
- MK42 0QX: 14 addresses
- MK42 0QY: 10 addresses of 12 in the postcode
- MK42 0TQ: 1 address of 31 in the postcode
Nearby streets
Southcote · De Havilland Avenue · Blackburn Close · Sopwith Way · Scott Avenue · Westwood Close · Thomson Avenue · South Drive · Brancker Avenue · Leech Close · Garland Crescent · Quantrelle Court
What this page cannot tell you
- Whether a particular house is at risk of flooding, subsiding or anything else: the flood map is a model of areas and there is no property-level data here.
- What a home is worth now: sales are historic prices for the homes that happened to sell.
- How safe the street is: crime points are moved to anonymised locations and many crimes are never reported.
- Whether you would get a place at a school: distances are straight lines, not catchments.
- Who lives on the street now: census figures describe the small areas around it in March 2021, during a lockdown.
- How long a journey takes or how often anything runs: transport distances are straight lines to the nearest stops.
- Whether a GP practice is taking new patients, or a dentist new NHS patients.
- How loud a home is inside, or noise from industry, neighbours or smaller airfields: noise figures are models of road, rail and air traffic outside.
How each figure on this page is matched to the street and worked out: methodology.