White Beam Close Kempston, Bedford
46 addresses across 3 postcodes (MK42), about 330 m long, classed as a local road. USRN 27300707.
- Energy: 29 homes have an energy certificate (C: 18, D: 8, E: 1, F: 1, G: 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 C; 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 Kempston Hardwick, about 2.3 km (1.5 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: The nearest park or garden, The Green, is about 1.3 km (0.8 miles) away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 11.0 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 7.5 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 30 to 32 m above sea level.
- Noise: 2 of its 46 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is King Street Surgery, about 1.1 km (0.7 miles) away.
- People: About 310 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 71% of households owned their home and 23% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 24 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
29 homes with a current certificate; median floor area 68 m². Most common: House, semi-detached (16); House, end-terrace (7); House, mid-terrace (6). Built: 1967-1975 (13); 1976-1982 (11); 1983-1990 (2). Tenure at assessment: owner-occupied (12); rented (social) (6); rented (private) (6).
Each home's certificates and sales (14 addresses)
- 1, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 7, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 15, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 21, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 27, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 31, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 35, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 41, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 43, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 53, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 59 Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 63, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 71, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
- 79, Whitebeam Close, Kempston
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 C (40% of about 600 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.
Roadworks
Finished in the last three months
- 14 October 2026 to 16 October 2026: BT, Utility asset works, some carriageway incursion, on the footway, footpath (minor works)
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 8 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 7RW | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 5 | unlikely |
| MK42 7RN | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 3 | unlikely |
| MK42 7RT | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
Height above sea level
The street's 46 addresses are between 30 m and 32 m above sea level (31 m on average).
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK42 7RN | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| MK42 7RT | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| MK42 7RW | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Kempston Hardwick 9,780 journeys in 2024–25 | 2.3 km (1.5 miles) |
| Bedford St Johns 176,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 2.5 km (1.5 miles) | |
| Bedford 3.8 million journeys in 2024–25 | 2.9 km (1.8 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 6 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 21 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Interchange Park Kempston | 210 m |
| Bus or coach station | Bus Station Bedford | 3.2 km (2 miles) |
| Car parks | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Parking Elstow Park and Ride | 580 m (0.4 miles) |
| EV charging points | 3 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest bp pulse Charging Station | 560 m (0.3 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 27.4 km (17 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 1 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest King Street Surgery | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 3 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Boots | 140 m |
| NHS dentists | 3 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest U H P The Dental Practice | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) |
| Hospital | Bedford Hospital | 2.3 km (1.4 miles) |
| Police station | Bedforshire Police Authority | 1 km (0.6 miles) |
| Cash machines | 1 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Morrisons Daily - Kempston Southfields Centre, Orchard Street Cashzone | 430 m (0.3 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | The Green 8,460 m² | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) |
| Play area | 5 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 660 m² | 430 m (0.3 miles) |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 5.8 ha | 510 m (0.3 miles) |
| Allotments | Unnamed 2,730 m² | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) |
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Elstow Manor House (Remains of), a scheduled monument, 1.3 km (0.8 miles) east.
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Elstow Manor House (Remains of) | Scheduled monument | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) east |
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| The Spinney | Wood | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) west |
| Hollow Lake | Lake or reservoir | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) south-east |
| Van Diemen's Land | Wood | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) south-west |
| Causeway Lake | Lake or reservoir | 2.3 km (1.4 miles) south-east |
| Rink Islands | Island | 3.1 km (1.9 miles) north-east |
| Castle Hill | Hill | 3.2 km (2 miles) north-east |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 11.0 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 7.5 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 13.8 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 59 | 2 | 0 |
| Under 55 | 44 | 46 |
2 of the street's 46 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 270 m | Good (Jun 2022, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Daubeney Academy | Secondary | 11–16 | 400 m (0.2 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 |
| Camestone School | Primary | 4–11 | 840 m (0.5 miles) | No published inspection |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy | Primary | 5–11 | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) | Report card (Dec 2025): 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 |
| Balliol Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) | Good (Jul 2022, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Elstow School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.5 km (1 mile) | No published inspection |
| Kempston Academy | Secondary | 11–18 | 1.6 km (1 mile) | No published inspection |
| Cauldwell School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.9 km (1.2 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 |
| Peter Pan Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | 2 km (1.2 miles) | No published inspection |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KFC MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 160 m | 5 Very good | 14 May 2025 |
| Burger King MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 160 m | 5 Very good | 27 Feb 2025 |
| Boots MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | 5 Very good | 14 Mar 2026 |
| Tk Maxx MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | Exempt | |
| Costa Ltd MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 m | 5 Very good | 28 Sep 2025 |
| Next Retail Ltd MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | Exempt | |
| GROUND ESPRESSO BARS MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 m | 3 Generally satisfactory | 14 May 2025 |
| Home Bargains MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | 5 Very good | 28 Jul 2022 |
| McDonald's MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 m | 5 Very good | 15 Oct 2024 |
| Superdrug Stores Plc MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | Exempt | |
| Nando's MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 m | 5 Very good | 28 Aug 2025 |
| Card Factory MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | Exempt | |
| Holland and Barrett MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | 5 Very good | 28 Aug 2025 |
| COOK MK42 7AZ | Retailers - other | 240 m | 5 Very good | 7 Jan 2026 |
| Chaiiwala MK42 7AZ | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 240 m | 5 Very good | 3 Feb 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 9 |
| Anti-social behaviour | 9 |
| Other crime | 3 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 2 |
| Vehicle crime | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Magnolia Close (14); On or near White Beam Close (7); On or near The Silver Birches (3).
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 16% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 71% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 35% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 3% | 1% |
| Social rented | 9% | 17% |
| Private rented | 18% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 74% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 3% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 15% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 2% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 22% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 66% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 0% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 5% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 6% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 67% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 5% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 23% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 22% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 6% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 86% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 3% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this street is in decile 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
- Roadworks Street works permit: BT: Utility asset works, 13 October 2026 to 16 October 2026 (some carriageway incursion) found 3 November 2026
- Energy certificates New energy certificate: band C, house, semi-detached (lodged 19 October 2026) found 2 November 2026
- Food hygiene ratings Cinnamon (takeaway/sandwich shop, MK42 7PR) re-inspected, still 4 Good (rated 24 September 2026) found 30 October 2026
Postcodes on this street
Nearby streets
Juniper Walk · Race Meadows Way · Magnolia Close · The Silver Birches · The Firs · Polo Field Way · Spruce Walk · Race Meadows Way · The Briars · Interchange Way · The Pines · Ronald Close
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.