Wilstead Road Elstow, Bedford
9 addresses across 4 postcodes (MK42), about 5.2 km (3.2 miles) long, classed as a a road. USRN 27302621.
- Prices and rents: A typical home in Bedford cost £330,462 in August 2026 (+1.1% on a year); private rents averaged £1,177 a month.
- Flood: 8 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 C; Band D in Bedford costs £2,472 a year in 2026-27.
- Broadband: Gigabit broadband is available to 0% to 100% of premises.
- Transport: The nearest railway station is Kempston Hardwick, about 3.1 km (1.9 miles) away in a straight line.
- Green space: There is a small park or garden about 590 m (0.4 miles) away, and Wixams Greenway (12 hectares) is about 610 m (0.4 miles) away.
- Air: Background air pollution in 2024 was 7.4 µg/m³ of nitrogen dioxide and 7.1 of PM2.5, within UK legal limits.
- Height: Its addresses are 29 to 48 m above sea level.
- Noise: 7 of its 9 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic.
- Doctors: The nearest GP surgery is London Road Health Centre, about 3.8 km (2.3 miles) away.
- People: About 1,200 people lived in the census areas around it in 2021; 76% of households owned their home and 37% of adults held a degree or other higher qualification.
- Crime: 44 crimes were recorded within 250 m between September 2025 and August 2026, most often anti-social behaviour.
- Road safety: 11 collisions in which someone was hurt were reported on and around it in 2021 to 2025, 3 of them fatal or serious.
£9.99 The Street Dossier Full Report for a home on Wilstead Road: its own records, questions to ask the seller and everything on this page, in one PDF. Choose the home
Sales on this street
No sales recorded on this street since January 1995 under this street name.
House prices and rents in Bedford
A typical home in Bedford cost £330,462 in August 2026, 1.1% more than a year before. That is 16% more than five years earlier and 36% more than ten years earlier.
| Home | Typical price, Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Detached | £557,923 |
| Semi-detached | £348,256 |
| Terraced | £278,279 |
| Flat or maisonette | £159,840 |
| Bought by a first-time buyer | £273,305 |
Private renters in Bedford paid £1,177 a month on average in September 2026, 2.5% more than a year before. That is 33% more than five years earlier.
| Home | Average rent a month, Sep 2026 |
|---|---|
| One bedroom | £802 |
| Two bedrooms | £1,032 |
| Three bedrooms | £1,265 |
| Four or more bedrooms | £1,812 |
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 neighbourhoods around this street: most are in band C (46% of about 1,860 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)
- North End Farm, 187 Bedford Road, Wilstead: up to 39 homes, permissioned (480 m (0.3 miles))
- Area J1 Bedford Road Wixams, permissioned (600 m (0.4 miles))
- Land north of The Causeway, Wixams: up to 62 homes, permissioned (680 m (0.4 miles))
- Wixams New Settlement LPH14 H31, Wixams (Land focused on the Elstow Storage Depot): up to 1,062 homes, permissioned (840 m (0.5 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, 8 at medium risk and 9 at low risk. Each address counts once, at the higher of its rivers-and-sea and surface-water risk.
Rivers and the sea alone: of the 16 homes the Environment Agency counts, 0 are in areas at high risk, 0 medium, 13 low and 0 very low.
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 9YU | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
| MK42 9BF | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
| MK42 6AZ | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 0 / 0 | unlikely |
| MK42 6DG | not in 2 or 3 | 0 / 8 / 9 | unlikely |
Coal mining
The coal mining risk areas have not been loaded yet.
Height above sea level
The street's 9 addresses are between 29 m and 48 m above sea level (36 m on average); the ground rises about 19 m from the lowest to the highest.
Broadband
| Postcode | Superfast (30 Mbit/s+) | Ultrafast (300 Mbit/s+) | Gigabit | Below 10 Mbit/s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MK42 6AZ | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| MK42 6DG | 100% | 100% | 100% | 0% |
| MK42 9BF | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| MK42 9YU | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | Kempston Hardwick 9,780 journeys in 2024–25 | 3.1 km (1.9 miles) |
| Bedford St Johns 176,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 4.1 km (2.6 miles) | |
| Stewartby 85,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 5 km (3.1 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 2 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 9 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Dove Lane Wixams | 380 m |
| Bus or coach station | Bus Station Bedford | 5 km (3.1 miles) |
| Car parks | Parking Elstow Park and Ride | 2.5 km (1.6 miles) |
| EV charging points | bp pulse Charging Station | 2.5 km (1.6 miles) |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London Luton Airport LTN | 25.1 km (16 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | London Road Health Centre | 3.8 km (2.3 miles) |
| Pharmacies | 1 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Wilstead Pharmacy | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) |
| NHS dentists | London Road Health Centre | 3.8 km (2.3 miles) |
| Hospital | Bedford Hospital | 4.1 km (2.5 miles) |
| Police station | Bedforshire Police Authority | 3.1 km (1.9 miles) |
| Cash machines | 1 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Kempston Local Shopper | 390 m |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 2 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 5.6 ha | 590 m (0.4 miles) |
| Largest park within 800 m (0.5 miles) | Wixams Greenway 12 ha | 610 m (0.4 miles) |
| Play area | 6 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 260 m² | 90 m |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 7,460 m² | 640 m (0.4 miles) |
| Allotments | Lakeview Allotments 2,900 m² | 890 m (0.6 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 2 parks and gardens, 18 hectares in all.
Landmarks
3 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles).
| Name | What it is | From the middle of the street |
|---|---|---|
| Village Lake | Lake or reservoir | 270 m south-west |
| Causeway Lake | Lake or reservoir | 470 m (0.3 miles) north-west |
| Dane Lane Lake | Lake or reservoir | 820 m (0.5 miles) south-west |
| Shocott Spring | Wood | 2.2 km (1.4 miles) east |
| Hammer Hill | Hill | 4.4 km (2.7 miles) south-east |
| Longholme Island | Island | 4.4 km (2.7 miles) north |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 7.4 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 75 dB or more | 1 | 0 |
| 65 to 69 | 1 | 0 |
| 60 to 64 | 3 | 0 |
| 55 to 59 | 2 | 1 |
| Under 55 | 2 | 8 |
7 of the street's 9 addresses are modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, and 1 from railways, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview School | Primary | 3–11 | 140 m | Good (Oct 2022, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Wixams Tree Primary Academy | Primary | 4–11 | 800 m (0.5 miles) | Good (Apr 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) |
| Wixams Academy | Secondary | 11–19 | 920 m (0.6 miles) | Report card (Mar 2026): Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard; Achievement: Expected standard; Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention; Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard; Inclusion: Needs attention; Leadership and governance: Expected standard; Post-16 provision: Expected standard; Safeguarding standards: Met |
| Willow Grove Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) | No published inspection |
| Wilstead Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | 1.6 km (1 mile) | Good (Oct 2023, overall grade under the previous framework) |
Food hygiene ratings nearby
| Business | Type | Distance | Rating | Rated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Fish & Chip MK42 6AE | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 250 m | 4 Good | 27 Nov 2025 |
| Co-Op (Southern Co-Op Ltd). MK42 6AE | Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 260 m | 5 Very good | 4 Nov 2025 |
| Seasons Restaurant MK45 3HU | Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 470 m (0.3 miles) | 5 Very good | 21 Apr 2026 |
Crime within 250 m
| Category | Crimes |
|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 16 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 15 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4 |
| Shoplifting | 3 |
| Public order | 2 |
| Other theft | 1 |
| Other crime | 1 |
| Bicycle theft | 1 |
| Drugs | 1 |
Most of these are attached to: On or near Brooklands Avenue (9); On or near Partridge Place (7); On or near Piper Lane (6); On or near Pheasant Grove (6); On or near Redwing Mews (5).
Road safety
11 collisions in which someone was hurt were reported on and around the street in 2021 to 2025: 0 fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight, in which 3 people were seriously hurt. 1 involved a motorcyclist. 55% happened in the dark, and 27% on a wet or icy road. Most were on roads with a 40 mph limit.
| Year | Collisions | Fatal or serious |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| Date | Severity | Who was hurt | Road | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2025 13:48 | Slight | 1 person | A6, 60 mph | Wet road |
| 26 Oct 2024 09:47 | Serious | 1 person | A6, 30 mph | Daylight |
| 27 Aug 2024 19:46 | Serious | 2 people: 2 motorcyclists | A421, 40 mph | Dark, street lights on |
| 31 Oct 2023 01:05 | Slight | 2 people | A6, 40 mph | Dark, street lights on |
| 27 Aug 2023 19:11 | Slight | 1 person | A6, 40 mph | Dark, no street lights |
| 4 Jun 2023 23:20 | Slight | 1 person | A6, 40 mph | Dark, street lights on |
| 20 May 2023 18:14 | Slight | 1 person | Minor road, 30 mph | Daylight |
| 2 Feb 2022 21:38 | Serious | 3 people | A6, 60 mph | Dark, street lights on |
| 19 Oct 2021 00:03 | Slight | 1 person | A421, 60 mph | Dark, street lights on, wet road |
| 13 Aug 2021 15:21 | Slight | 1 person | A6, 70 mph | Daylight |
Only collisions in which someone was hurt and which the police were told about are here: damage-only collisions and near misses are not, and some injuries are never reported. Positions are recorded by the police, usually to within a few metres. Each year's figures are published the following September.
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 26% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this street | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 76% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 23% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 4% | 1% |
| Social rented | 11% | 17% |
| Private rented | 9% | 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) | 14% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 2% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 37% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 56% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 2% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 3% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 3% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 49% | 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) | 37% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 11% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 7% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 95% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | under 1% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhoods around this street are all 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
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 9YU: 5 addresses of 37 in the postcode
- MK42 9BF: 2 addresses of 9 in the postcode
- MK42 6AZ: 1 address of 21 in the postcode
- MK42 6DG: 1 address of 19 in the postcode
Nearby streets
Wren Terrace · Bluebird Gardens · Woodpecker Gardens · Piper Lane · Parkview Terrace · Redwing Mews · Pheasant Grove · Little Owl Lane · Peacock Gardens · Partridge Place · Brambling Gardens · Kingfisher 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; road collisions count only those in which someone was hurt and the police were told.
- 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.