Gillespie Close Bedford
82 addresses across 3 postcodes (MK42), about 140 m long, classed as a restricted local access road. USRN 27302033.
- Energy: 69 homes have an energy certificate (B: 5, C: 46, D: 18).
- Flood: 2 addresses on its postcodes are in areas 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 56% to 100% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns, about 470 m (0.3 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden is about 20 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 9.6 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 7.3 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 26 to 27 m above sea level.
- Noise: 9 of its 82 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is London Road Health Centre, about 490 m (0.3 miles) away, with 2 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile).
- People: About 640 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 44% of households owned their home and 35% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 210 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often violence and sexual offences.
Sales on this street
No sales recorded on this street since January 1995 under this street name.
Energy performance certificates
69 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 54 m². Most common: Flat (48); House, mid-terrace (10); House, end-terrace (7). Built: 2003-2006 (30); 1996-2002 (29); 1991-1995 (7). Tenure at assessment: rented (private) (34); owner-occupied (26); rented (social) (4).
Each home's certificates and sales (37 addresses)
- 1, Gillespie Close
- 2, Gillespie Close
- 3, Gillespie Close
- 5, Gillespie Close
- 8, Gillespie Close
- 9, Gillespie Close
- 11, Gillespie Close
- 12, Gillespie Close
- 13, Gillespie Close
- 16, Gillespie Close
- 19, Gillespie Close
- 20, Gillespie Close
- 21, Gillespie Close
- 22, Gillespie Close
- 23, Gillespie Close
- 24, Gillespie Close
- 26, Gillespie Close
- 27, Gillespie Close
- 28, Gillespie Close
- 35, Gillespie Close
- 37, Gillespie Close
- 42, Gillespie Close
- 43, Gillespie Close
- 44, Gillespie Close
- 45, Gillespie Close
- 48, Gillespie Close
- 51, Gillespie Close
- 52, Gillespie Close
- 53, Gillespie Close
- 54, Gillespie Close
- 56, Gillespie Close
- 58, Gillespie Close
- 59, Gillespie Close
- 63, Gillespie Close
- 67, Gillespie Close
- 68, Gillespie Close
- 70, Gillespie Close
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 neighbourhood around this street: most are in band B (50% of about 860 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)
- Land at College Road & Muswell Road, Bedford: up to 7 homes, permissioned (400 m (0.2 miles))
- South of the river, Bedford: up to 913 homes, not permissioned (420 m (0.3 miles))
- South of the river, Bedford: up to 913 homes, not permissioned (510 m (0.3 miles))
- South of the river excluding Danfoss, Bedford, not permissioned (510 m (0.3 miles))
- St Johns Terrace, 1 Ampthill Street, Bedford: up to 6 homes, permissioned (550 m (0.3 miles))
- The Phoenix, 45 St Johns Street, Bedford: up to 8 homes, permissioned (610 m (0.4 miles))
- Melbourne House, 3 Kingsway, Bedford: up to 128 homes, permissioned (660 m (0.4 miles))
- Melbourne House 3 Kingsway Bedford, permissioned (660 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 31 October 2026.
Flood risk
Rivers, the sea or surface water: in this street's postcodes, 0 addresses are in areas at high risk, 2 at medium risk and 31 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 9JQ | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 26 | unlikely |
| MK42 9JH | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
| MK42 9LN | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 2 / 5 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's 82 addresses are between 26 m and 27 m above sea level (27 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK42 9JH | 97% | 61% | 56% | 0% |
| MK42 9JQ | 100% | 97% | 83% | 0% |
| MK42 9LN | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Bedford St Johns 176,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 470 m (0.3 miles) |
| Bedford 3.8 million journeys in 2024–25 | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) | |
| Kempston Hardwick 9,780 journeys in 2024–25 | 4.5 km (2.8 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 7 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 33 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest The Angel Cauldwell | 90 m |
| Bus or coach station | Bus Station Bedford | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) |
| Car parks | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Prebend Street Car Park | 780 m (0.5 miles) |
| EV charging points | 15 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Victoria Road | 370 m |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 28.7 km (18 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 2 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest London Road Health Centre | 490 m (0.3 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 8 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Janssen's Pharmacy | 340 m |
| NHS dentists | 13 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest London Road Health Centre | 490 m (0.3 miles) |
| Hospital | Bedford Hospital | 550 m (0.3 miles) |
| Police station | Bedford Police Station | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) |
| Cash machines | 2 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Nisa Cashzone | 490 m (0.3 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 6 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 4,760 m² | 20 m |
| Largest park within 800 m (0.5 miles) | Unnamed 1.5 ha | 750 m (0.5 miles) |
| Play area | 17 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 70 m² | 30 m |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 4.5 ha | 420 m (0.3 miles) |
| Allotments | Bunyan Allotments 8.9 ha | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 6 parks and gardens, 2.5 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Church of St John and associated boundary walls and gates, a listed building (Grade I), 670 m (0.4 miles) north. 24 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 2 of them Grade I and 3 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Church of St John and associated boundary walls and gates | Listed building, Grade I | 670 m (0.4 miles) north |
| St John's Hospital | Listed building, Grade II* | 690 m (0.4 miles) north |
| Former Parish Church of St Mary | Listed building, Grade I | 850 m (0.5 miles) north |
| Trinity House | Listed building, Grade II* | 850 m (0.5 miles) north |
| Bedford Castle motte and bailey | Scheduled monument | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) north |
| Elstow Manor House (Remains of) | Scheduled monument | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) south |
| Medieval lime kiln off Castle Lane, Bedford | Scheduled monument | 1.2 km (0.8 miles) north |
| Bedford Park | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 2.5 km (1.5 miles) north |
| Garden at Three Gables | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 2.6 km (1.6 miles) north-west |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Rink Islands | Island | 1 km (0.6 miles) north |
| Castle Hill | Hill | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) north |
| Longholme Island | Island | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) north-east |
| Press Meadow | Wood | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) east |
| Priory Marina | Lake or reservoir | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) east |
| Priory Lake | Lake or reservoir | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) east |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 9.6 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 7.3 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 11.9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 | 9 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 73 | 82 |
9 of the street's 82 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Trees Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | 230 m | No published inspection |
| Shackleton Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 310 m | Report card (Jan 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Needs attention; 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 |
| Peter Pan Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | 520 m (0.3 miles) | No published inspection |
| Cauldwell School | Primary | 4–11 | 530 m (0.3 miles) | Report card (Nov 2025): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Strong standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Needs attention; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Bedford Free School | Secondary | 11–16 | 800 m (0.5 miles) | Outstanding (Jan 2020, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Bedford College | 16 plus | 16–99 | 900 m (0.6 miles) | No published inspection |
| King's Oak Primary School | Primary | 1–11 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | Report card (May 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Strong standard; Leadership and governance: Strong standard; Early years: Strong standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Bedford Academy | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) | Good (Mar 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Elstow School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) | No published inspection |
| Priory Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) | No overall grade (Nov 2024, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Good |
| Camestone School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) | No published inspection |
| Daubeney Academy | Secondary | 11–16 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | No overall grade (Jul 2025, graded inspection without an overall judgement): Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Shop MK42 9LP | Retailers - other | 100 m | 5 Very good | 14 May 2026 |
| MK Food & Wine MK42 9LP | Retailers - other | 120 m | 5 Very good | 14 Jan 2025 |
| Texaco Service Station MK42 9NU | Retailers - other | 140 m | 5 Very good | 11 Mar 2019 |
| Bedford Sweets & Snacks MK42 9LX | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 180 m | 4 Good | 14 Aug 2025 |
| Joyes Chicken MK42 9NT | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 250 m | 4 Good | 1 Oct 2025 |
| DVCC Recovery Bar MK42 9NZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 250 m | Exempt | |
| Bedford Food And Wine MK42 9NT | Retailers - other | 260 m | 5 Very good | 7 Jan 2025 |
| Gardeners Arms MK42 9HS | Pub/bar/nightclub | 270 m | 5 Very good | 5 Feb 2015 |
| Chirico Bakery MK42 9JD | Manufacturers/packers | 270 m | 5 Very good | 25 Sep 2018 |
| Paneficio Chirico Bakery MK42 9JD | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 270 m | 4 Good | 7 Aug 2024 |
| S&D Fish 'n' Chips MK42 9HG | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 340 m | 3 Generally satisfactory | 8 Oct 2025 |
| Desi Tadka/ Bedford Pizza Junction/ Bedford Burger & Deserts MK42 9HG | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 340 m | 3 Generally satisfactory | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Janssens Pharmacy MK42 9HG | Retailers - other | 340 m | 4 Good | 15 Jun 2017 |
| World Foods MK42 9HG | Retailers - other | 340 m | 5 Very good | 16 Jul 2019 |
| Vegan Wholesaler Ltd MK42 0NY | Importers/Exporters | 350 m | 5 Very good | 18 Mar 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 96 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 43 |
| Other theft | 14 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 13 |
| Drugs | 9 |
| Public order | 8 |
| Vehicle crime | 8 |
| Burglary | 6 |
| Other crime | 4 |
| Bicycle theft | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 |
| Possession of weapons | 2 |
| Shoplifting | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near The Sidings (53); On or near Ossory Way (23); On or near Firbank Road (21); On or near Kennedy Road (15); On or near Conquest Road (13).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 22% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 5% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 44% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 8% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | under 1% | 1% |
| Social rented | 8% | 17% |
| Private rented | 48% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 76% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 5% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 4% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 2% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 20% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 55% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 3% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 6% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 16% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 68% | 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) | 35% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 18% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 3% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 63% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 8% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 2 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 9JQ: 42 addresses
- MK42 9JH: 39 addresses of 44 in the postcode
- MK42 9LN: 1 address of 26 in the postcode
Nearby streets
Fitzgerald Close · Bridge Road · Haynes Road · Hardwick Road · Conquest Road · Armstrong Drive · Colby Walk · Miller Road · Firbank Road · Bassie Close · Elstow Road · Hawkins Road
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.