Harpur Centre Bedford
73 addresses across 7 postcodes (MK40), about 260 m long. USRN 27302159.
- Flood: 7 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 A; Band D in Bedford costs £2,472 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 0% to 14% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Bedford, about 650 m (0.4 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden, St Mary's Gardens, is about 280 m away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 10.5 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 7.3 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 27 to 28 m above sea level.
- Noise: 52 of its 74 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is Ashburnham Road Surgery, about 560 m (0.3 miles) away, with 5 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile).
- People: About 340 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 27% of households owned their home and 28% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 955 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 |
|---|
| Date | Address | Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep 2018 | UNIT 18 MK40 1TP | Other | £15,000 | Leasehold. Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
| 16 Aug 2016 | HARPUR CENTRE FLOWERS MK40 1TJ | Other | £22,000,000 | Leasehold. Not a standard sale (repossession, buy-to-let or transfer). |
Energy performance certificates
No certificates found for addresses on this street.
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 A (44% of about 1,130 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: yes, Bedford (council page). Extensions, demolition, some windows and doors, and work on trees need consent.
- Listed buildings on or by this street: 3.
- 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.
Listed buildings
- Harpur Centre, grade II*
- NORTH EXTENSION (CIVIC THEATRE) TO TOWN HALL, grade II
- TOWN HALL, grade II
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Aecom House, 200 Horne Lane, Bedford: up to 28 homes, permissioned (50 m)
- 1-13 Greyfriars and 57-65 Midland Road, Bedford: up to 18 homes, permissioned (130 m)
- 5 - 7 Priory Street, Bedford: up to 11 homes, permissioned (200 m)
- Greyfriars, Bedford: up to 200 homes, not permissioned (220 m)
- 1 Brereton Road, Bedford: up to 7 homes, permissioned (220 m)
- 9 Church Arcade and 2 Dane Street, Bedford: up to 12 homes, permissioned (250 m)
- Greyfriars Police Station, 32 Greyfriars, Bedford: up to 105 homes, permissioned (250 m)
- Greyfriars, Bedford: up to 200 homes, not permissioned (260 m)
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, 3 addresses are in areas at high risk, 4 at medium risk and 11 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: at least one postcode centre is in flood zone 2. Zone 2 is between 0.1% and 1% a year from rivers (0.1% and 0.5% from the sea), ignoring defences.
| Postcode | Planning zone | Addresses at high / medium / low risk | Groundwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| MK40 1TP | not in 2 or 3 | 1 / 1 / 6 | unlikely |
| MK40 1TJ | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 1 / 1 | unlikely |
| MK40 1TQ | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 1 | unlikely |
| MK40 1PJ | zone 2 | ||
| MK40 1TN | not in 2 or 3 | ||
| MK40 1PS | zone 2 | 2 / 0 / 1 | unlikely |
| MK40 1PL | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 2 / 2 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's 74 addresses are between 27 m and 28 m above sea level (28 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK40 1PJ | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| MK40 1PL | 29% | 14% | 14% | 0% |
| MK40 1PS | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| MK40 1TJ | 25% | 8% | 8% | 0% |
| MK40 1TN | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| MK40 1TP | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| MK40 1TQ | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Bedford 3.8 million journeys in 2024–25 | 650 m (0.4 miles) |
| Bedford St Johns 176,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 710 m (0.4 miles) | |
| Kempston Hardwick 9,780 journeys in 2024–25 | 5.4 km (3.3 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 10 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 45 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest River Street Bedford | 70 m |
| Bus or coach station | Bus Station Bedford | 200 m |
| Car parks | 6 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest River Street Car Park | 70 m |
| EV charging points | 25 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest bp pulse Charging Station | 60 m |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 29.9 km (19 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 5 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Ashburnham Road Surgery | 560 m (0.3 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 11 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Boots | 110 m |
| NHS dentists | 21 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Dental Surgery | 280 m |
| Hospital | Bedford Hospital | 790 m (0.5 miles) |
| Police station | Bedford Police Station | 240 m |
| Cash machines | 8 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Cash machine 14 Silver Street Halifax | 220 m |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 9 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest St Mary's Gardens 2.2 ha | 280 m |
| Largest park within 800 m (0.5 miles) | Everard Meadow 10 ha | 580 m (0.4 miles) |
| Play area | 13 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 60 m² | 90 m |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Priory Recreation Ground 6,000 m² | 430 m (0.3 miles) |
| Allotments | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 730 m² | 580 m (0.4 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 9 parks and gardens, 22 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Harpur Centre, a listed building (Grade II*), 110 m north-east. 107 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 5 of them Grade I and 8 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Harpur Centre | Listed building, Grade II* | 110 m north-east |
| Harpur Suite | Listed building, Grade II* | 150 m north-east |
| Church of St Paul | Listed building, Grade I | 180 m east |
| Bedford Shire Hall | Listed building, Grade II* | 200 m south-east |
| Medieval lime kiln off Castle Lane, Bedford | Scheduled monument | 380 m east |
| Bedford Castle motte and bailey | Scheduled monument | 440 m (0.3 miles) east |
| Bedford Park | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) north |
| Bedford Cemetery | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 1.6 km (1 mile) north |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Hill | Hill | 450 m (0.3 miles) east |
| Rink Islands | Island | 470 m (0.3 miles) east |
| Hill Rise | Wood | 1.4 km (0.8 miles) north |
| Longholme Island | Island | 1.6 km (1 mile) east |
| Priory Marina | Lake or reservoir | 2.1 km (1.3 miles) east |
| Press Meadow | Wood | 2.3 km (1.4 miles) east |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 10.5 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 7.3 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 11.9 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 are above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road and rail noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways |
|---|---|---|
| 70 to 74 | 3 | 0 |
| 65 to 69 | 12 | 0 |
| 60 to 64 | 27 | 0 |
| 55 to 59 | 10 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 22 | 74 |
52 of the street's 74 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College | 16 plus | 16–99 | 300 m | No published inspection |
| Priory Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 410 m (0.3 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 |
| Bedford Free School | Secondary | 11–16 | 420 m (0.3 miles) | Outstanding (Jan 2020, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Livingstone Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 1 km (0.6 miles) | Good (Mar 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Peter Pan Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | No published inspection |
| Cauldwell School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.1 km (0.7 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 |
| Castle Newnham School | All-through | 4–16 | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) | Report card (Mar 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 |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) | No published inspection |
| Shackleton Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) | 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 |
| Queen's Park Academy | Primary | 2–11 | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) | Good (May 2022, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Edith Cavell Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) | No published inspection |
| Westfield Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | 1.6 km (1 mile) | Report card (Jun 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard; Personal development and wellbeing: Strong standard; Inclusion: Expected standard; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Early years: Expected standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion '0' MK40 1UH | Retailers - other | 20 m | 5 Very good | 16 May 2014 |
| TK Maxx MK40 1UH | Retailers - other | 30 m | 5 Very good | 3 Feb 2016 |
| Superdrug Stores Plc MK40 1TQ | Retailers - other | 40 m | Exempt | |
| Price Check MK40 1TJ | Retailers - other | 60 m | 5 Very good | 7 Jan 2023 |
| New Look MK40 1RH | Retailers - other | 70 m | Exempt | |
| KOKORO MK40 1PS | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 m | 5 Very good | 2 Jul 2025 |
| Putt Putt Noodles MK40 1TP | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 m | 5 Very good | 7 Mar 2026 |
| Broadway Food Centre MK40 1PS | Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 80 m | 5 Very good | 4 Mar 2026 |
| Pistachio Cafe' MK40 1AS | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 m | 4 Good | 3 Dec 2024 |
| Taco Bell MK40 1AS | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 m | 5 Very good | 6 Jan 2026 |
| Card Factory MK40 1TP | Retailers - other | 80 m | Exempt | |
| Miller & Carter MK40 1AS | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 80 m | 5 Very good | 18 Sep 2024 |
| Greggs MK40 1TQ | Takeaway/sandwich shop | 90 m | 5 Very good | 6 Feb 2025 |
| Grape Tree MK40 1TP | Retailers - other | 90 m | 5 Very good | 6 Jun 2019 |
| Tesco Stores Limited MK40 1TJ | Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 90 m | 5 Very good | 8 Feb 2024 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 275 |
| Shoplifting | 160 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 126 |
| Public order | 102 |
| Other theft | 75 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 45 |
| Drugs | 37 |
| Robbery | 31 |
| Burglary | 28 |
| Bicycle theft | 25 |
| Theft from the person | 18 |
| Possession of weapons | 14 |
| Vehicle crime | 13 |
| Other crime | 6 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Shopping Area (123); On or near Paradine Court (111); On or near River Street (110); On or near Silver Street (110); On or near Harpur Square (104).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 23% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 4% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 27% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 9% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 2% | 1% |
| Social rented | 15% | 17% |
| Private rented | 56% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 66% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 12% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 3% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 4% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 15% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 39% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 2% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 12% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 22% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 64% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 13% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 28% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 25% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 5% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 57% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 9% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 1 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
- MK40 1TP: 31 addresses of 36 in the postcode
- MK40 1TJ: 26 addresses of 29 in the postcode
- MK40 1TQ: 7 addresses
- MK40 1PJ: 3 addresses
- MK40 1TN: 3 addresses of 6 in the postcode
- MK40 1PS: 2 addresses of 12 in the postcode
- MK40 1PL: 1 address of 19 in the postcode
Nearby streets
River Street · Merchant Gate · Merchant Place · Horne Lane · Costin Street · James Street · Commercial Road · Greyfriars · St Pauls Square · Maitland Street · Saffron Close · Heron Quay
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.